Ukraine and its allies adhere to a single position: there should be a ceasefire first, and then negotiations, as Russia can use dialogue for manipulation. This was stated by the head of the Presidential Office, Andriy Yermak, in RBC-Ukraine interview.
When asked whether Kyiv was ready to begin negotiations with Russia without a prior cessation of hostilities if the United States supported such an approach, Yermak replied that Ukraine already has bitter experience with similar formats.
"But there is another side to this: what such a format would mean for the US and Europe. First of all, for regional security," he added.
According to Yermak, Russia will try to use the negotiation process as a cover to get out of sanctions, and in general, this format is determined by the desire to lead everyone by the nose. The Head of the Presidential Office emphasized: the question is whether Europe and the US are ready to tolerate this? Absolutely not.
"Therefore, our partners and I have a common approach: first a ceasefire, then negotiations. This is confirmed by all the latest statements on both sides of the Atlantic," Yermak explained.
As a reminder, on the night of May 11, Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected the idea of a ceasefire, instead having uttered to resume direct negotiations with Ukraine on May 15 in Istanbul.
In the morning Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed readiness for dialogue, but stressed that a prerequisite should be a confirmed ceasefire from May 12 - according to the initiative of Ukraine, the US and the "coalition of the determined."
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