Ukrainian Parliamentary Official: Negotiating with Russia Offers No Benefit to Ukraine.

Roman Kostenko's Remarks on Talks with Russia

According to TSN.ua: In an interview with RBC-Ukraine, Roman Kostenko, Secretary of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security, Defense, and Intelligence, stated that engaging in talks with Russia is not advantageous for Ukraine and yields no tangible results. He explained that Ukraine enters these negotiations from a position of weakness, which complicates the situation.

Kostenko emphasized that Russia is actively seeking to increase pressure on Ukraine. He pointed to the earlier ultimatum issued by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, which included demands for Ukraine to surrender territory.

“Russia demands that we surrender territories; we will not do this,” Kostenko stated.

Ukraine's Stance in the Negotiations

Kostenko further noted that while peace is preferable to war, it cannot be achieved at the expense of Ukrainian people and land.

“When we sit down at the negotiating table, we lack the leverage to even secure the current front line,” he stressed.

Consequently, Ukraine's position in talks with Russia remains extremely difficult. Calls for peace must contend with the reality that preserving the country's territorial integrity and sovereignty is paramount. This stance reflects the immense challenges Ukraine faces in any diplomatic engagement with its aggressor, which launched a full-scale invasion in February 2022.

In the context of the ongoing war, Kostenko's statement highlights the serious dilemmas confronting Ukrainian negotiators. The refusal to make territorial concessions and the emphasis on sovereignty signal Ukraine's readiness to defend its core interests despite Kremlin pressure.

Negotiations conducted from a weak position risk worsening the situation, a concern shared by military and political circles. This underscores the critical need for sustained international support to bolster Ukraine's standing on the global stage.