MoD: No one raising topic of Ukraine-Russia negotiations

Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said this at a press conference in Kyiv, answering a question from Ukrinform about whether there have been any attempts to raise the topic of peace talks with the leadership of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry at the international level.

"The topic of peace talks has never been raised with me, and I am consciously saying this. They know my clear position, and no one is even trying, even if they would like to. They clearly understand that we do not plan to sit down at the negotiating table today, because our President has very clearly said that no one will sit down at the negotiating table with the person who is currently heading the Kremlin - this is number 1. Number 2 - in the future, we will sit down at the negotiating table and discuss reparations, contributions from Russia in the interests of Ukraine for all the trouble they have brought us, and how to implement the verdict of the International Tribunal, which will be created by the entire civilized world, where the military criminals from the Kremlin, from this gang, will be punished and the verdict will be announced," Reznikov said, adding that Ukraine is ready to discuss the act of surrender with its partners.

At the same time, he noted that there are those who will try to reconcile Ukraine and Russia, but the time has not yet come for this.

"This does not mean that there are no people willing to be facilitators and try to reconcile us somewhere, but the time has not yet come," the minister emphasized.

As reported, Italian Defense Minister Guido Crozetto believes that Ukraine and Russia should be brought to the negotiating table, and China could mediate.

In addition, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva suggested that Ukraine should cede Crimea to end the war. Ukraine's Foreign Ministry responded that Ukraine does not trade its territories and sees no reason to give up even an inch of Ukrainian land.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly emphasized that a diplomatic format can be started and the end of the war unleashed by Russia against Ukraine can be marked at a big table in the presence of "decent" states only if Russia withdraws its troops from Ukraine without a fight.