Ukraine Demands Complete Ceasefire and Rejects Crimea Annexation in Talks

Ukraine is ready to negotiate, but not on the terms of surrender, and will never recognize the annexation of Crimea. The first step to peace should be a complete ceasefire, not a "frozen" conflict.

This was reported by Krym.Realii.

During the talks in London, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy of Ukraine Yulia Svyrydenko emphasized that Ukraine is ready for diplomacy, but will not make any concessions that could be seen as surrender. She noted that the Ukrainian delegation had clearly voiced Kyiv's position: no agreements that would give Russia time to regroup or create preconditions for a new wave of aggression.

We are ready to talk, but only if there is a complete ceasefire - on the ground, in the air and at sea. It must be a real ceasefire, not a tactical pause," Svyrydenko said.

She also emphasized that Ukraine will never recognize the annexation of Crimea and will not agree to a "freeze" of the war under the guise of a peace agreement. If the country does not gain NATO membership, it will insist on clear and legally binding security guarantees.

These statements were made against the backdrop of consultations between representatives of Ukraine, the United States, and European countries that took place in the British capital. Initially, the meeting was supposed to be held at the level of foreign ministers, but in the end, the talks were held in a smaller group.

The Ukrainian side recalled that it had already proposed a ceasefire for at least 30 days to give a chance for de-escalation. However, in the face of constant shelling and threats from Russia, any compromises are viewed only through the prism of security and lasting peace.

The Donald Trump administration has increased pressure on Ukraine regarding possible scenarios for ending the war. The United States is demanding that Kyiv respond to the proposals voiced by the US president's team. These include not only recognizing Crimea as Russian, but also removing Ukraine from the list of candidates for NATO membership.

The President's Office warned that such a move would have serious consequences for global security, as it could destroy international agreements and jeopardize the nuclear disarmament system. Advisor to the head of the OP Serhiy Leshchenko emphasized that the US recognition of the annexation of Crimea would mean the actual denunciation of the Budapest Memorandum.

Also, the Ukrainian delegation, which included representatives of the Mejlis and the Crimean Tatar Resource Center, took part in a session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. They focused on the oppression of Crimean Tatars in the occupied Crimea and called on the international community to show solidarity.

Анна Бальчінос