**Ukraine Stands Firm on Military Strength Amid Russia Talks**
As the world watches the fragile ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia, a key player has made it clear that Ukraine will not compromise on its military strength. In an interview published on April 10, Deputy Chief of Staff Pavlo Palisa told Reuters that Ukraine’s government will not agree to any restrictions on its armed forces’ size or combat readiness.
“This is a principled position of Ukraine — no one, and certainly not the aggressor country Russia, will dictate to Ukraine what kind of armed forces Ukraine should have,” Palisa said. The official emphasized that Ukraine’s well-trained military remains its strongest safeguard against future Russian aggression.
The remarks come as Kyiv formally communicated this stance to Washington, according to Palisa. This position is a firm response to Russia’s demands for restrictions on Ukraine’s military in exchange for a full ceasefire. Moscow rejected the proposal on March 13 unless it included these conditions.
**A Fragile Ceasefire and Unwillingness to Compromise**
The current partial ceasefire, brokered in U.S.-mediated talks in Saudi Arabia on March 11, covers strikes on energy infrastructure and the Black Sea. However, Kyiv had agreed to a full 30-day ceasefire, which was rejected by Russia unless Ukraine’s military was restricted.
Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly remains unwilling to compromise in peace talks, complicating efforts led by U.S. President Donald Trump. The fragile ceasefire has created an opportunity for further negotiations, with Trump planning separate meetings with Ukraine and Russia in the coming weeks.
**Pressure and Negotiations Ahead**
President Volodymyr Zelensky believes that setting time limits for ceasefires can put pressure on Russia. “If you have a ceasefire for an unclear period — it is a frozen conflict,” he said. Meanwhile, Trump expressed frustration over Russia’s intensified bombardments across Ukraine but has yet to impose major sanctions or punitive action.
As the situation remains fluid, the Kyiv Independent will continue to provide updates and analysis on this developing story.