Ukraine Deputy FM: Russia does not want peace and is not prepared for it

Ukraine's Deputy Foreign Minister Marjana Betsa has said Russia is not genuinely interested in peace negotiations and is not prepared to end the conflict. Despite public statements from Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky about the possibility of a ceasefire, the war continues and negotiations have stalled.

Ukraine's Deputy Foreign Minister Marjana Betsa said in an interview with ERR that despite public hints from Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky about the possibility of ending hostilities, Russia is not in fact open to peace nor prepared for it. There has been no real progress between the two sides on peace.

Moscow does not want serious negotiations

According to Betsa, Russia's behaviour is contrary to the constructive engagement necessary for peace negotiations. The Ukrainian official stressed that Moscow continues military operations and makes demands that Ukraine cannot accept. As a result, the peace process is currently at a standstill.

Ukraine faces a complex situation: on the one hand, there is international pressure to end the conflict, on the other, Russia is not prepared to make substantive concessions. Betsa noted that Ukraine's goal is to achieve a just and lasting peace that guarantees the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Ukraine's hopes and goals

Despite the difficult situation, Ukrainian officials expressed hope that international support for the country will continue and partners understand that Russian aggression has not ended. According to Betsa, Ukraine is prepared for peace negotiations, but only on terms that do not harm the country's independence or create conditions for new attacks in the future.

The messages from Ukraine's Deputy Foreign Minister are a clear signal to both the West and Russia: Kyiv will not accept compromises that would leave Ukraine's security at risk. The international community is watching developments closely, as the course of the war has a direct impact on the Baltic states and Europe more broadly.