Ukraine's Foreign Minister: Russia will still have to end the war diplomatically, but the conditions will be worse
The Ukrainian Foreign Minister explains what mistake Putin is making by refusing a truce.
Andrii Sybiha. Photo: AP Photo / Efrem Lukatsky
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stated that by refusing direct negotiations with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Russian leader Vladimir Putin missed the chance to exit a failed war, and later Russia will have to agree to a diplomatic settlement on much worse terms.
"There is no good news for Russians. By rejecting President Zelenskyy's offer of direct peace talks, Putin missed the chance to get out of this failed war.
The situation for Russia will only worsen. Battlefield losses will continue to grow. Defeats will become increasingly humiliating. The economy will plunge even deeper into recession. More jobs will disappear, taxes will rise, and inflation will hit the most vulnerable segments of the population hardest.
There are no longer any safe places in Russia that could avoid Ukraine's long-range sanctions. But their intensity will continue to grow. International pressure will not weaken. It will only intensify, including asset freezes, travel bans, and inevitable accountability for crimes," writes Sybiha.
The diplomat emphasized that Putin will never achieve his goals on the battlefield, and "he better abandon his delusions that Ukraine will soon collapse, that its partners' support will weaken, or that pressure on Russia will decrease."
"Russia will still have to agree to a diplomatic solution, but the conditions will be much worse. Putin's rejection of peace should lead to a significant increase in international pressure on Russia and support for Ukraine."
In an open letter on June 4, Volodymyr Zelenskyy offered Putin to meet personally to end the war.
Putin said he had read Zelenskyy's open letter and "sees no point in holding a meeting."
Comments
Ведаеце, я раней выступаў за хутчэйшае сканчэння вайны, было шкада людзей, але, калі кіраўніцтву Украіны сваіх людей не шкада і яны гатовы гэты кошт плаціць, то трэба прызнаць, нам выгадна, каб вайна працягвалася.
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