Sibiha said Russia has no right to post the conditions for a truce. The central event last week was a meeting of Ukrainian and American officials in Saudi Jeddry. For the first time in the last few years, the possibility of temporary truce between Ukraine and Russia is seriously considered. However, as Sibiha points out, it all depends on the official response of Moscow, which has not yet arrived.
“Ukraine accepted the American proposal for a 30-day end fire. The ball is now in the Russian yard. We expect a response without any conditions,” Sibiha said, index.
Cancel fire, emphasizes, will not mean a “frozen conflict”, but only a step towards just and lasting peace. But experience from the “Minsk negotiation period” and more than 25 earlier truce shows how much Russia is prone to violating agreements. That is why Ukraine is looking for an international truce surveillance mechanism, which would include modern technologies, such as drones.
Sibiha clearly said that there are principles that Ukraine will not negotiate: Territorial integrity, Right to sovereignty and Independent decision-making on NATO and EU membership.
“We’ll never admit occupied territories. And no one has the right to put the veto on our foreign policy,” he said.
Although NATO membership is currently not on the table, Sibiha says that it should not be removed from the agenda.
“It is enrolled in our Constitution and remains our strategic goal. Safety guarantees must include air patrols, air defense systems, maritime safety and domestic defense industry,” emphasized.
Sibiha confirms that Europe has shown stronger interest in the concrete help of Ukraine in recent weeks.
“We no longer talk about abstract ideas. Summit of the security coalition was held on Saturday, with the participation of the president of Zelenia, and there is also a possible proportion of foreign contingents,” he said.
However, the key remains support for the United States. “Without US leadership, it is all harder,” he said, but adds that diplomatic pressures on Moscow – including new sanctions – still options if Russia rejects cooperation.
The Minister claims that the international insulation of Russia still lasts, despite individual contacts.
“Putin tries to create an illusion of normalization, but sanctions are still in force, and it is also working on the establishment of a Special War Crimes Court,” he said. As an example, he cited the verdict against an Russian citizen in Finland, which shows that justice has not been forgotten.
Sibiha says Ukraine remains realistic, but the goal is clear – just peace by the end of the year.
“We have a strong support of the US and the EU, and the political will to finish this war. Ukraine is more than any other country want war to end – this year.” He also announced the diplomatic offensive against the states of the global south, including the upcoming meetings in India.
(Vijesti.ba)
