To destabilize Ukraine, Russia to hand down "land for peace" offer - NSDC secretary

That’s according to an oped by Oleksiy Danilov, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, published by Ukrainian Pravda.

"Internal destabilization in Ukraine is the only salvation for Russia from military defeat and collapse of the Putin regime. For this purpose, the Kremlin needs to inject into a circulatory system a poisonous virus - the idea of the possible compromise. All that is needed is Ukraine’s consent to give up the territories of Donetsk, Luhansk regions and Crimea in exchange for an end to the war. This scenario is being implemented on a large scale and in various directions. In its plans, the Kremlin is counting on the fatigue of Ukrainians, exhaustion of allies and partners, elections in the U.S. and Europe, economic crisis, and demand for Russian resources," Danilov said.

According to the official, at international meetings, Russian representatives intimidate their counterparts, trying to convince them that the exchange of part of Ukrainian territories for peace is the best way out of the crisis.

The Secretary of the National Security Council predicts that soon in Ukraine, various "experts" will start promoting narratives of the need for peace, claiming that the West is betraying Ukraine, and that the in the east of Ukraine and in Crimea only brainwashed "separatists" and "pro-Russian" population remain, that the economy has been destroyed and cities – devastated.

"But such statements are a delusion and crime. At a minimum, it’s an encroachment on the territorial integrity of the state, and at a maximum, it’s treason. Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk regions, all other temporarily occupied areas of Ukraine are sovereign Ukrainian territory that cannot be exchanged or sold out. Once someone falls into this trap of choosing between concessions and war, as a result, we will get war again," Danilov said.

In his opinion, Russian authorities consider such a "land for peace" deal only as an intermediate stage of achieving their main goal, which is to destroy Ukraine and completely absorb it.

Explaining his opinion, Danilov emphasized that in this case, the Russian Federation would get the necessary operational pause for its armed forces to restore combat capability; and most importantly, the Kremlin will launch into Ukrainian public a destructive virus of social split based on indignation and discontent.

"In conditions where 95% of Ukrainians believe in victory in this war, a compromise with the aggressor will cause an inevitable civil protest. And if you skillfully play on the exposed nerves of Ukrainian society and heat up the eternal topic of domestic corruption, give a platform to the silent adepts of ‘Russian world’ and fuel political ambitions of various opponents, the country will inevitably enter an acute phase of political crisis. And at this very time, Russia will deliver a new blow," believes the secretary of the NSDC.

Danilov noted that this war does not foresee a draw and there are no semitones to it. "Ukraine must win, and Russia must lose. Compromise and concessions are the path to defeat and loss of statehood," he concluded.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, Danilov said Russia’s occupation forces are seeing no success with the so-called "big offensive" in the east of Ukraine as they are being repelled by Ukraine’s troops.

Photo: NSDC of Ukraine