Ukraine's Presidential Office: Peace deal with Russia impossible, only peace enforcement
Photo: Advisor to the Head of the Presidential Office Mykhailo Podolyak (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Ukraine can negotiate peace with Russia, but only through tools of enforcement. Economic and diplomatic unity is needed to pressure Russia, stated Mykhailo Podolyak, advisor to the Head of the Presidential Office, in a comment to the RBC-Ukraine YouTube channel.
Podolyak noted that it is in Ukraine's interest to establish relations with Russia based on international law, which clearly outlines "what can and cannot be discussed."
"When they talk about a peace agreement, I don't really understand a peace agreement with an aggressor who wants to stay on your territory and not be held accountable for crimes against you. That would be your agreement to turn a blind eye to his crimes," he said.
The advisor to the Head of the Presidential Office emphasized that great caution is needed when dealing with Russia.
"They may pretend to sign an agreement, but that means they are preparing to stab you in the back. This is Russia's strategy. They can't make agreements with you because they only recognize strength when you can resist and retaliate. Nothing else matters to them, and they will try to take more from you," Podolyak stated.
Therefore, according to him, negotiations with Russia are possible, but only through tools of enforcement.
"This will not be a peace agreement. It will be coercion Russia to peace based on international law. For this, we need to secure military, economic, and diplomatic unity to exert pressure on Russia," added the advisor to the Presidential Office.
Ukraine-Russia negotiations
Recently, Donald Trump stated that on his first day as US President, he wants to bring Ukraine and Russia to the negotiating table. Prior to the election, Trump repeatedly claimed he could end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours.
Western media outlets have published several versions of Trump’s so-called peace plan.
The Wall Street Journal suggests that Trump may propose that Ukraine refrain from joining NATO for 20 years in exchange for continued military aid. Ukraine, however, would be required to give up 20% of its territory.
The Telegraph reports that Trump may ask European troops to deploy in a buffer zone between Ukrainian and Russian forces.
Earlier, the Ukrainian Presidential Office outlined the main condition for starting negotiations with Russia: the withdrawal of enemy troops to positions held before February 24, 2022. They emphasized that Ukraine is opposed to a frozen conflict.
At the same time, the US State Department stated that the United States currently sees no indication that Russian President Vladimir Putin is willing to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine except on his own terms.
