Ukraine rejects peace talks 'on Russia's terms'

Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) Oleksiy Danilov. Photo: AFP

According to Mr. Danilov, there is currently a pressure campaign being conducted by a number of countries to launch peace talks. In an interview with state television on May 11, Mr. Danilov emphasized: "I want you to realize that they are escalating tensions to make us sit at the negotiating table on Russia's terms. No one is selling out our national interests, no matter how many representatives of other countries, who are involved in this situation, want that to happen." However, Mr. Danilov did not name any official or country that put pressure.

On the same day, in an interview with the BBC, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that the country's army needs more time to prepare for a counterattack against Russian forces. Mr. Zelensky emphasized: "With (what we have), we can move forward and succeed. But we will lose a lot of people. I think that is unacceptable. So we need to wait. We still need a little more time."

Ukrainian forces are training a new army and stockpiling Western-supplied ammunition and weapons, which analysts say will be key to retaking territory seized by Russia. The timing of Kiev's efforts to retake the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, as well as the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, remains unclear. Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said late last month that Kiev's preparations were "nearly over" and that its forces were ready.