Ukraine’s Foreign Policy Committee Chair Warns Russia on Peace Talks
Russia is not genuinely interested in peace negotiations with Ukraine, says Oleksandr Merezhko, the chair of Ukraine’s Parliament committee on foreign policy.
Merezhko spoke to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty about his concerns. He said that despite ongoing war and aggression against Ukraine, there are no signs Russia is ready for genuine talks.
US President-elect Donald Trump has expressed a desire to end the war quickly, but it’s unclear how he will convince Moscow to engage in negotiations. Some reports suggest that Trump might consider a peace deal that compromises Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
Merezhko emphasized that Ukraine remains open to fair and honest negotiations, but Russia issues ultimatums instead of genuine talks.
Russia may use a meeting with Trump to create the illusion that they are not isolated, Merezhko warned. He said that such a meeting would serve Putin’s goals, rather than initiating meaningful dialogue.
However, Merezhko noted some encouraging signals from Trump and his special envoy Keith Kellogg. They have adopted terminology aligning with Ukraine’s position, advocating for a just, sustainable, and comprehensive peace based on international law.
To demonstrate Russia’s genuine readiness for negotiations, Merezhko suggested that they implement an International Court of Justice decision demanding Russia withdraw its troops and cease aggression against Ukraine. But this has not happened, he said.
Former Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba also stressed the importance of forcing Russia to abandon its position on negotiating over temporarily occupied territories under Ukrainian control.
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