Ukraine will have to make some concessions in peace talks with Russia - Polish President
Photo: Polish President Andrzej Duda (Getty Images)
The future peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia will involve compromises from both parties. It means that Ukraine will have to make certain concessions, stated Polish President Andrzej Duda in an interview with Euronews.
"It has to be a compromise. I mean, de facto, this peace should, in my personal opinion, come down to the fact that neither side will be able to say that it won this war, because each side in some sense will have to step down," Duda said.
He believes that if a peace deal with Russia is reached, Ukraine will likely have to make some concessions.
"Ukraine will also have to step down in some sense, because that's what will probably happen. To what extent? It is difficult for me to answer at this stage," the Polish president added.
Duda emphasized that a prolonged war is costly for both Ukraine and Russia. In his view, only active US involvement can bring it to an end.
"It is only this American pressure that can really bring this war to an end and help forge a peace that will not be comfortable for either side," he noted.
US peace plan between Ukraine and Russia
Recently, The Washington Post reported that the US is preparing to present its own peace proposal for Ukraine and Russia during talks with Ukraine, the UK, and France in London.
According to the report, Washington might consider recognizing Crimea as Russian and potentially offer to lift anti-Russian sanctions. In return, Russia would be expected to halt all military operations, effectively freezing the conflict.
In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed that any discussions about Crimea, the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), or NATO are speculative, saying that an unconditional ceasefire is the first essential step before any meaningful talks can begin.
US President Donald Trump, meanwhile, said that Zelenskyy’s public refusal to recognize Crimea as Russian is harming the peace talks.
He stated that Ukraine is in a difficult position and warned that without peace, the whole country could be lost in three years.
Overall, US officials believe that President Zelenskyy is moving in the wrong direction in the context of the peace process.
