First Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Economy of Ukraine Yuliya Svyrydenko said that Ukraine is ready to negotiate but not to give up.
She wrote about this on the social network X.
‘During today's meeting of the Ukrainian delegation with partners in London, we reaffirm our principled position: Ukraine is ready to negotiate, but not to give up. There will be no agreement that will give Russia the stronger foundations it needs to regroup and return with more violence,’ Svyrydenko said.
She noted that a complete ceasefire - on land, in the air and at sea - is a necessary first step. If Russia chooses a limited pause, Ukraine will respond in kind.
‘Our people will not accept a frozen conflict disguised as peace. We will never recognise the occupation of Crimea. And if NATO membership is not granted, Ukraine will need binding security guarantees - strong enough to deter future aggression and clear enough to ensure lasting peace,’ the minister stressed.
- A meeting between the Defence and Foreign Ministers of Ukraine and the UK has started in London today. Earlier, a meeting between the foreign ministers of Ukraine, Germany, France, the UK and the US Secretary of State was scheduled, but it was cancelled due to the absence of Marco Rubio. CNN attributed Rubio's absence to Ukraine's refusal to recognise Crimea as Russia.
- Following the cancellation of the foreign ministerial talks in London, US Vice President J.D. Vance said that Washington had made a ‘very clear offer’ to Russia and Ukraine on how to move forward with a peace deal, adding that ‘it's time for them to either say yes or for the United States to walk away from this process.’ ‘There has to be some territorial exchange,‘ Vance said, adding that while the border may not end up with the same front lines as it does now, both sides must “lay down their arms, freeze ”it’ and get on with the real building of a better Russia and a better Ukraine.’