President’s Office outlines one of main conditions of Ukraine–Russia peace agreement

"Immediate ceasefire and immediate withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine is one of the key aspects of the peace agreement. No other way. The negotiations are a large-scale process involving not only Russia and Ukraine. Our partners, including Poland, are also indirectly involved. Because we must not just sign an agreement. We want to develop a concrete mechanism that will guarantee our security in the future. So far, both the Russian and Ukrainian delegations hold their ground. Reconciliation of disputes can take from a few days to a week and a half. During this time, we must move closer to a peace agreement. Taking into account, first of all, the interests of Ukraine, which has suffered enormous destruction from the Russian Federation," Mykhailo Podolyak, Adviser to the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, said in an interview with the Wiadomości Polish newspaper, Ukrinform reports.

The Adviser to the Head of the President’s Office stressed that once the peace agreement was concluded, the Russian Federation would have no other choice than to start to withdraw immediately its armed forces from Ukrainian territory. "Once the agreement is signed, the Vienna Convention will enter into force for both parties. It clearly states that the peace treaty can be annulled if the warring parties do not withdraw their troops from enemy territory. Therefore, any attempts to keep Russian soldiers on Ukrainian territory will be legally unfounded," Podolyak argued.

He underscored that in order to ensure the further escalation of the military situation in Ukraine, it is planned to prescribe in detail a specific plan for the withdrawal of Russian troops in the final document. "To legally verify it and get the support of our partners. In addition, it is foreign countries that will guarantee compliance with the conditions and security of Ukraine in the future. This will be a document that describes in detail the procedure in case of repeated aggression by Russia," said the Adviser.

The representative of the President’s Office noted that this was an innovative formula, authored by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, which might underpin a completely new security system in Europe.

In addition, Podolyak stated that Ukraine's position in negotiations with Russia on the occupied territories remains unchanged – it is impossible to change the country's borders. "However, I believe that we must be realistic in our judgments. De jure, Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk remain the part of Ukraine, but we do not control them de facto, the Russian administration works there. One of the key issues is how to manage these territories. The problem is that the Russian Federation came to us with the war, not started a conversation," he added.

Asked whether the possibility of restoration of Ukraine’s control over Donetsk and Luhansk is considered, Podolyak noted that negotiations are underway, as well as the search for a legal formula. "Once it is found, the presidents of Ukraine and Russia will continue negotiations at a special meeting," he added.

At the same time, the Adviser to the Head of the President’s Office expressed the opinion that the signing of a peace treaty by the parties can only end the acute phase of the conflict. However, he expressed doubts that this would be the end of the war for Ukrainians and stated that Russia had no chance to prove that anyone but it was to blame for this large-scale catastrophe.

On February 24, Russian president Vladimir Putin announced the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine. Russian troops destroy key infrastructure, massively shell residential areas of Ukrainian cities and villages using artillery, multiple launch rocket systems, and ballistic missiles.

Martial law was imposed in Ukraine and general mobilization was announced. Ukraine repels Russian invaders.

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