Ukraine is not ready to make concessions to the invaders/Office of the President of Ukraine
I want the fullest possible understanding that nothing has ended yet. Therefore, we must continue to fight on all fronts. Russia spends huge resources to prove to the world the main thing: supposedly Russians have the right to kill Ukrainians. And not get a full punishment for it.
Russia is not sitting idle
That is why pro-Russian lobbyists in Europe are starting to raise their heads little by little.
Just yesterday, the information agenda was exclusively oil embargo and Russian war crimes. Today, certain political mouths are offering us a new agenda: a ceasefire, a frozen conflict and the surrender of part of the territories for the sake of peace.
What can you offer to protect your comfortable social media feed from bad news and resume business with Russia. “We want to return the old, pre-war way of life. Agree to some compromises” – in some Western eyes you can read literally the following.
Red lines
So there is no ambiguity. Ukraine will not participate in this discussion. We do not trade our citizens, territories or sovereignty. It's a clear red line. Ukrainian society has paid a terrible price and will not allow anyone to take even a step in this direction – not a single government, not a single country. Any hint of this from any partner will receive a fundamental reaction.
There can be no question of freezing the conflict.
First, any freeze is a war postponed in time. Larger, bloodier and more prepared on the part of the aggressor, who will do the work on the mistakes, dismiss and arrest the generals, and put in their place militants with the experience of today's war. By the way, we also did our work on the mistakes: Ukraine drew conclusions from the Minsk agreements and therefore will not go to Minsk-3.
Secondly, geopolitical “strategists” talk about territories, but no one talks about people. Since the beginning of the war, 13 million Ukrainians have already left their homes. These people will not return to live in the occupied territories or in the “grey” war zone. Because it's risky. This means that we will not have an economy.
Are those who call for a freeze on the war going to support our settlers for life? There are serious doubts about this. Millions of Ukrainians also found themselves under occupation, and we will not allow anyone to trade their fate, sitting in a comfortable chair in a non-belligerent country.
Are negotiations possible
Every war ends at the negotiating table, and this one will be no exception. But negotiations will become possible only when the parties are ready to negotiate. To do this, Russia needs to begin to soberly assess the situation. It is unlikely that statements about concessions, saving face or freezing the conflict will contribute to this.
No one in the world is interested in a prolonged war. Nobody is interested in a food crisis. But today the shortest way to end the war is weapons, sanctions and financial assistance to Ukraine.
There can be no greater stab in the back than proposals to give away part of the territories from those whose values and Ukrainians defend the borders, giving their lives. Maybe freedom and democracy are no longer worth fighting for?
Ukraine was given from three days to several weeks. The Ukrainians defended Kyiv, liberated three regions and are completing the liberation of the fourth. Today, the same people are offering us to give Russia the east and south. Thanks for the advice, but perhaps we will accept the help of weapons.
