Ukrainian MFA: Putin does not seek peace, he seeks ways to continue war
Photo: Heorhii Tykhyi, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Russian leader Vladimir Putin currently has no intention of ending the war against Ukraine. Talks are only possible when his position changes, stated Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Heorhii Tykhyi.
Tykhyi reminded that the Ukrainian delegation has already visited Istanbul several times this year for negotiations with the Russian side. However, Russia only sent low-level officials who repeatedly voiced the same ultimatums and had no authority to make decisions.
"The reason is simple: Putin does not seek peace, he seeks ways to continue the war. Tell your boss to end the war. When he is ready—we can hold a leaders’ meeting and agree on a ceasefire," the spokesperson said.
What Russia said
Earlier, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin claimed that Moscow was ready to resume direct negotiations with Ukraine within the Istanbul format.
Galuzin accused Ukraine of refusing dialogue, saying Kyiv hopes to achieve peace by force.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly expressed readiness to meet with Russian leader Vladimir Putin to discuss ways to end the war.
Putin, however, continues to avoid such a meeting. Instead, he has invited Zelenskyy to Moscow and questioned the usefulness of direct talks between Ukrainian and Russian leaders.
Meanwhile, the Financial Times reported, citing sources, that US President Donald Trump canceled his planned meeting with Putin in Budapest due to the Kremlin's harsh conditions for ending the war.
