The Ukrainian side is not conducting any negotiations on the possibility of territorial concessions to achieve peace, but is ready to discuss a peace plan that will include a certain phasing of its achievement.
Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal stated this at a press conference on Tuesday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.
“Were there any specific negotiations on the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine? There were no such negotiations, I am not aware of this,” the head of the Ukrainian government said.
At the same time, he noted that statements are being made in the media space that Ukraine will have to cede some territories. “From my point of view, in accordance with current international law, the UN Charter, this is impossible. Ukraine is a sovereign, independent country, whose borders are recognized by the international community and are laid down in law… Therefore, we do not and cannot discuss Ukraine’s territorial loss,” Shmyhal emphasized.
The Prime Minister noted that Ukraine can hold talks about a peace plan that will include a certain step-by-step approach to achieving a just peace.
“Probably, under (the conditions of) security guarantees from our partners – Ukraine’s membership in the EU, NATO, and other strong security guarantees – we can talk about some kind of phasing. But as for the fact that Ukraine will give up its territories – there is no authority to hold such negotiations,” the head of the Ukrainian government emphasized.
He reiterated that Ukraine is ready at any moment to sign an agreement on the creation of an appropriate investment fund in order to start working with the U.S. on an absolutely pragmatic economic basis.
“I am convinced this will serve as a certain element of Ukraine’s economic growth and protection of Ukraine by the U.S. Of course, we need and ask for specific security guarantees from both the U.S. and Europe and the G7 nations. This is existentially important not only for Ukraine, but also for the EU, for the European continent,” Shmyhal concluded.
Shmyhal stated that Ukraine has only one plan — to fight until victory.
“I will say this: we all have one plan — to win and survive. There cannot be another plan here. We only have Plan A: to fight until Ukraine wins. This is our plan, and we are working in line with this plan,” the head of government emphasized.
According to him, over the three years of full-scale war, Ukraine has faced various challenges, there have been various situations, including extremely difficult ones.
“But every time we tackle these challenges together with you, because we have no choice. We will either overcome them, we will go through these challenges, defend our state, fight the enemy and win, or we will no longer be able to write Plan B. That is, I am not considering Plan B. For us, Plan A is our victory,” the Prime Minister said.
As Ukrinform reported, U.S. President Donald Trump ordered to put on pause all American military assistance to Ukraine in order to force Kyiv to demonstrate a “good-faith commitment” to peace.
Source: Shmyhal on territorial concessions: “This is impossible”
