Ukrainian soldier Kyrylo Sazonov says the current US-led negotiation process is a show rather than a path to peace. Russia is not taking the negotiations seriously, and all indications suggest the invaders intend to continue fighting, Fabrika Novyn reports.
The US-initiated "peace talks" were launched a year ago. Since then, Russia has only increased attacks on Ukraine, reaching records in the number of drones and ballistic missiles, as well as victims among civilians. Moscow hasn't withdrawn from Ukraine and repeatedly said it will achieve its goals in the war, which means the destruction of the country's sovereignty.
“I think this is about imitation right now,” Sazonov emphasizes.
According to him, the constant changes of heads of the Russian negotiating team and the inclusion of "historian" Vladimir Medinsky in the meetings point to the purely formal nature of these talks.
“This will again be about the Pechenegs, the Cumans, Lenin, who supposedly ‘invented’ Ukraine, and Ukrainians digging the Black Sea. In other words, the same nonsense will start again,” the soldier explains.
Donetsk Oblast is not peace: Russia will only expand demands
Sazonov notes that even for “peace,” Russia demands Donetsk Oblast, while in reality, its territorial claims are broader. According to him, Russia has already written Zaporizhzhia and Kherson oblasts into its constitution, despite the fact that they are not fully occupied.
“They occupy Donetsk Oblast and say: ‘Wait a minute, according to our constitution, we also have Kherson and Zaporizhzhia… Either hand them over, or we keep fighting,” Sazonov explains.
He adds that Ukraine is not ready to concede even the Donetsk Oblast.
Europe is safe, while Ukraine is fighting - that's why it will halt
According to Sazonov, the current war effectively guarantees Europe’s security: as long as Ukraine contains Russia, European countries can calmly reform, modernize, and finance their own armies.
“That’s why they would be fine with the war lasting several more years while we fight Russia. This is the best guarantee of their security much better than any European army. That’s why everything suits them,” Sazonov emphasizes.
He adds that as long as Ukraine is fighting Russia, Europeans feel safe and believe they will not be attacked, because even the “mad Putin,” as he put it, likely would not have the audacity to open a second front.
At the same time, he notes that this situation has both pros and cons: Europe will continue to support Ukraine, but is not interested in putting enough pressure on Russia to secure peace tomorrow.
