Ukraine has said it is ready to negotiate with Russia on ways to possibly end the war but not to surrender.
Ukraine’s deputy prime minister, Yuliia Svyrydenko, said this on Wednesday as details emerged in media reports of a US proposal for a deal which would see the country give up almost all territory currently occupied by Russia.
There were stories in the European media space earlier in the week suggesting that the proposed peace deal by the US favours Russia.
The war between the two next-door neighbours has lasted for over three years now.
President Donald Trump had during his presidential campaign vowed to bring it to end within the first 100 days office and it's currently working towards it.
However, President Volodymyr Zelensky has often maintained that his country was not ready to forfeit any of its territory to Russia.
“There will be no agreement that hands Russia the stronger foundations it needs to regroup and return with greater violence,”; Svyrydenko wrote on X.
“A full ceasefire – on land, in the air, and at sea – is the necessary first step,”; she said, adding that if Moscow instead opted for a limited pause, Kyiv would respond in kind.
