Ukraine's ban on direct talks with Putin remains in effect - MFA
Photo: Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Ukraine has not abandoned the principle of not negotiating personally with Russian President Vladimir Putin, says Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha in an interview with European Pravda.
The journalist asked Sybiha what Kyiv's current position is on direct talks with Putin, as it may be the issue in the context of US President Donald Trump's intentions to “quickly end the war,” and whether the National Security and Defense Council's decision to ban direct talks with Putin remains in force.
“Yes, this decision is still in effect. As of today, this decision of the National Security and Defense Council is still in force,” Sybiha replied.
The minister also said that Ukraine considers joining NATO to be the only effective guarantee of security.
“The only effective guarantee for Ukraine is NATO membership. Moreover, Ukraine's membership is a guarantee of NATO's security. Ukraine's full membership is also the cheapest option for NATO to ensure European security,” he said.
Ban on direct talks with Putin
In October 2022, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy enacted a decision of the National Security and Defense Council to ban negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The NSDS of Ukraine decided:
- to state the impossibility of holding negotiations with Vladimir Putin
- to approve the text of the Joint Address of the President of Ukraine, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, and the Prime Minister of Ukraine to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
- The Cabinet of Ministers was instructed to prepare proposals for a multilevel security guarantee system based on multilateral and bilateral agreements of Ukraine. To bring Ukraine's defense potential to a level that will ensure a guaranteed rebuff to Russia's armed aggression;
- In the face of Russia's escalation, the government should ensure that Ukraine's defense capabilities are strengthened by increasing the supply of military and technical assistance.
- The Verkhovna Rada is recommended to speed up the adoption of draft laws on appropriate sanctions and other responses to Russian escalation.
Ukraine-Russia talks
Ukraine and Russia are not currently engaged in peace talks, but after Donald Trump's victory in the US election, there have been statements about the possibility of their resumption in 2025.
President Zelenskyy emphasized that he wanted to receive guarantees from Trump first. Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has already rejected the Trump team's “peace proposals,” although there have been no official initiatives from the United States.
At the end of November last year, Sybiha emphasized that, despite its constant statements, Russia does not really want peace in the war.
In December, ISW experts said that Russia rejected the revision of the conditions for negotiations with Ukraine.
