Washington said on Friday that only Volodymyr Zelensky was in a position to approve whether or not to open negotiations.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday rejected the idea of a “short ceasefire” with Russia, arguing that it would only make matters worse.
“Russia is now looking for a short truce, a respite to regain strength. This could be considered the end of the war, but such a respite will only worsen the situation,” the Ukrainian leader said in comments broadcast at the forum. International Security Conference in Halifax, Canada.
“A truly genuine, lasting and honest peace can only come from the complete destruction of Russian aggression,” he added.
US share
The White House reiterated earlier on Friday that only Volodymyr Zelensky is in a position to approve the start of talks between Ukraine and Russia, rejecting any notion of US pressure on Kyiv in this direction.
U.S. Army Chief of Staff General Mark Milley has said twice recently that battlefield victories in Ukraine would open the door to negotiations for a political solution to the conflict.
However, he noted on Wednesday that Ukraine’s military expulsion of Russia from all the territories it occupies in the country, including Crimea, is unlikely, at least in the short term.
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