Ukraine's Foreign Minister reacts sharply to rumors of Putin's possible Middle East mediation role
Photo: Andrii Sybiha, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine (Vitalii Nosach/RBC-Ukraine)
Russian President Vladimir Putin can never be a mediator, as he is the one who starts wars, Andrii Sybiha, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, says during a conversation with journalists.
"They (the Russians - ed.) can never be mediators. I've already told you clearly: he's (Putin - ed.) a warmaker. So that's the reality we need to work from. They must be forced into peace. Their concept is peace through force. They only understand force," said Sybiha.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister emphasized that now is the time for decisive action against Russia. He also called for the continued isolation of the terrorist state, as well as the confiscation and use of frozen Russian assets.
Putin wants to act as mediator
Recently, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) wrote that Putin is trying to divert global attention from Russia's war against Ukraine. The Russian President, in particular, wants his country to serve as a mediator between Iran and Israel.
Putin's mediation was tentatively supported by former US President Donald Trump. However, Trump later advised Putin to first end the war he started against Ukraine.
Meanwhile, political analyst Volodymyr Fesenko told RBC-Ukraine that Putin has effectively found himself caught in a bind, trying to balance between the United States and Iran.
