Ukraine Is Ready to Hold Talks with Russia by Winter at a Neutral Venue — OSCE
Ukraine is ready to hold a new round of talks with Russia on neutral territory before winter sets in. This was stated by the Ukrainian Mission to the OSCE.
At the same time, officials in Kyiv emphasize that further dialogue depends primarily on Moscow’s position. According to Ukrainian representatives, it is the Russian side that must prove through its actions that it is genuinely interested in ending the war, rather than merely making statements to that effect.
“Russia often refers to the so-called ‘spirit of Anchorage.’ But, like any illusion, it never had a clear meaning in reality. One thing is clear today: if such a spirit ever existed, it no longer does. The lesson is clear: any peace process that excludes Ukraine is doomed to failure. It will remain nothing more than rhetoric, detached from reality,” he said.
According to the Ukrainian diplomat, Ukraine consistently advocates for a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace and is ready to hold talks with Russia on neutral ground before the start of winter.
"We are ready to hold negotiations with Russia on neutral ground before this winter. Now it is Russia’s turn to demonstrate whether it is truly interested in ending its aggressive war. However, at this time, all signals coming from Russia clearly indicate that this country is not seeking genuine dialogue,” Palagusynets emphasized.
He noted that Moscow continues to demand Ukraine’s de facto surrender, insisting on the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from its own territory in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. “Such a withdrawal would not be a compromise. It would create a strategic corridor for a further Russian offensive,” the diplomat stressed.
Palagusynets also stated that the quickest path to peace remains unchanged.
“Russia must cease its aggression and withdraw its troops from Ukraine’s internationally recognized territory. Until then, Ukraine will continue to exercise its inalienable right to self-defense in accordance with international law,” he said.
Separately, the deputy head of Ukraine’s mission to the OSCE briefed OSCE participating States on the scale of Russian attacks over the past week. He noted that from June 21 to 27, Russia deployed approximately 1,400 attack drones, nearly 1,500 guided aerial bombs, and 19 missiles of various types against Ukraine. As a result of these strikes, 19 civilians were killed and another 111 were injured, including five children.
He also reported that this past spring, in the Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Kharkiv, Sumy, Chernihiv, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions, Russia’s use of more than two dozen types of weapons and explosive devices was documented, which are prohibited or restricted under international humanitarian law. Ukraine will submit this information to the OSCE participating States and the Conflict Prevention Center, he noted.
This was stated by Rostyslav Palagusynets, Deputy Permanent Representative of Ukraine to International Organizations in Vienna, during a meeting of the OSCE Forum for Security Cooperation, according to a Ukrinform correspondent.
