Ukrainian negotiators rule out ceasefire with Russia

Acknowledging that Kiev’s stance on the war has become increasingly uncompromising, Presidential Adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said making concessions would backfire for Ukraine as Russia would respond more strongly.

He talks with Reuters in an interview at the Presidential Office that the fighting would not stop with any concessions, dismissing “strange” calls in the West for an urgent ceasefire involving the forces Russia controls parts of southern and eastern Ukraine.

“The (Russian) forces must leave the country before the peace process can be resumed.” he said.

Both Russia and Ukraine say peace talks have stalled, and blame each other for this. Meanwhile, thousands of people have died, millions have been displaced and many towns and cities have been ravaged by the fighting. Reuters.

Most recently, Russia said it had taken full control of the southern city of Mariupol during a “special military operation” in Ukraine, but its campaign was making no progress in other areas and Ukraine had consolidated its forces. force by reinforcing weapons from allies.

According to Podolyak, a ceasefire will be in the hands of the Kremlin.

He said: “They want to achieve some military success. Certainly there would be no military success without the help of our Western partners.”

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky on May 20 proposed a formal agreement with his country’s allies to seek compensation from Russia for the losses of the war.

Mr. Zelensky accused Russia of trying to destroy as much of Ukraine’s infrastructure as possible, and wanted the deal to show that countries would pay for their actions.

The President of Ukraine said that under such an agreement, Russian funds and assets in the signatory countries will be confiscated, which will then be transferred to a special compensation fund.

Last month, Canada said it would change its sanctions law to allow the redistribution of confiscated and sanctioned foreign assets to compensate victims or to help build a post-war country. .