Ukraine's Firm Stance: Rejecting Ultimatums, Promoting Peace
Ukraine acknowledges that discussions with Russia will inevitably be required to address the conclusion of the war.
However, Ukraine asserts that it will not tolerate Russia using the language of ultimatums, as stated by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitro Kuleba during a briefing at the Global Summit for Peace.
"Undoubtedly, we recognize the necessity of engaging in dialogue with Russia at some point. Nevertheless, our stance remains unequivocal - we shall not permit Russia to employ ultimatum-like rhetoric, as it presently does," Kuleba affirmed.
According to the Ukrainian official, Putin's recent ultimatum failed to garner any enthusiasm at the summit, as it was perceived as a transparent attempt to create a PR spectacle on the eve of the Summit.
"Their Russian disinformation efforts were notably effective. Reports indicated expectations of a successful and substantial Summit, prompting disruptive actions, including the deployment of a 'political nuclear weapon' in the form of Putin himself. His personal attempt to disrupt our Summit fell short; his proposals were not taken seriously due to two critical errors - firstly, resorting to ultimatums, and secondly, making demands for a sovereign nation to relinquish its own sovereign territory," Kuleba remarked.
He emphasised that Ukraine's peace initiative adheres closely to the UN Charter, advocating for a just resolution to the conflict. This position was underscored by the Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform.
"The conflict can only be resolved through comprehensive negotiations involving both parties. Our president stands firm in seeking the strongest possible outcome for Ukraine. Recent discussions from the Global South highlighted the necessity of grappling with challenging compromises, diverging notably from the discourse prevalent among our Western allies," he added.
Switzerland is hosting a Peace Summit in Ukraine at Bürgenstock (Canton of Nidwalden) on June 15 and 16, 2024. The agenda encompasses critical issues such as nuclear security, food security, and humanitarian concerns, including the exchange of prisoners and the return of abducted Ukrainian children. Final summit documents will be transmitted to Russia.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
