Ukraine rejected the ceasefire offering with Russia and the surrendering of the territories.
Rejecting the West’s offer for a ceasefire with Russia and for Russian forces to remain in the occupied territories, the adviser to the Ukrainian president said the ceasefire was in the Kremlin’s interest but that Moscow should be defeated.
The Ukrainian government on Saturday evening rejected a ceasefire offer with Russia, saying Kiev would not accept any agreement with Moscow that would include the transfer of territory.
Acknowledging that Kiev’s position on the war is becoming more irreconcilable, Mikhail Podoliak, an adviser to the President of Ukraine, said that giving concessions to Russia would have the opposite effect on Ukraine, as Moscow would respond more strongly after each pause in the war.
“The war does not end [after each concession],” Podoliak told Reuters. “It will only stop for a while.”
“After a while, with renewed vigor, the Russians make up for their weapons, manpower and mistakes, make a few upgrades, fire many generals and launch a new offensive, even more bloody and widespread.”
The senior Ukrainian official rejected “very strange” requests from the West for an immediate ceasefire, including the stay of Russian forces in the occupied territories of southern and eastern Ukraine.
“(Russian) forces must leave the country, and only then will it be possible to continue the peace talks,” Podoliak was quoted as saying by Reuters. “Because the fire will be in the Kremlin’s favor.”
“They want to establish some kind of military success,” he added. With the help of our Western partners, there will certainly be no military success. It is good if the European and American elites understand to the end; Russia can not be left halfway, because they will develop a spirit of revenge and become even more oppressive. They must fail, they must be affected. “A painful defeat, as painful as possible.”
Last night, Russia’s Defense Ministry announced that after about three months since the start of the war in Ukraine, Russian forces have taken full control of the city of Mariupol.
