Ukraine does not intend to cede territory to Russia
Ukraine has ruled out a ceasefire with Russia and said Kyiv would not accept any agreement with Moscow that would allow it to cede territory.
Acknowledging that Kyiv's position on the war is becoming increasingly uncompromising, an adviser to Ukrainian President Mikhail Podolyak told Reuters that the concessions would retaliate against Ukraine, as Russia would retaliate even more strongly after each cessation of hostilities.
- The war will not end (despite any concessions). It will only be put on hold for a while, Podoljak said in the well-guarded presidential office, where some windows and corridors are protected by sandbags.
Podoljak said in an interview that the Russians would strengthen their weapons and personnel after a while and launch a new offensive, even bloodier and more extensive.
He dismissed as "very strange" Western calls for an immediate ceasefire involving Russian forces remaining in the occupied territories of southern and eastern Ukraine.
"Russian forces must leave the country and" only then will it be possible to continue the peace process. "