Kiev will not agree to any restrictions on the size or combat capacity of the Ukrainian army as a result of a peace agreement with Russia. This is Kiev's "red line" in peace talks, it said in an interview with Reuters. Pavlo Palitsa, deputy head of the Ukrainian presidential administration, who was part of the Ukrainian delegation at the negotiations with the US in Saudi Arabia.
"This is a principled position of Ukraine - no one, least of all Russia, will dictate to Ukraine what armed forces the country should have", Palitsa emphasized.
He added that it is the Ukrainian army that will be the main guarantor of Ukraine's security and a deterrent against new Russian attacks after a ceasefire or peace agreement is reached in the current war. American partners have already been informed of this position, he pointed out.
"I can guess what motivates the Russian Federation to want to reduce the Ukrainian army - perhaps they want to prepare, to make it easier for themselves to launch a new attack in the future, but no - there will be no reduction of the Ukrainian army. Our task is to learn the lessons of the past well," adds Palitsa.
The British agency points out that in addition to the issue of reducing the army, Ukraine has stated that it will never agree to recognize Russia's sovereignty over the occupied territories, although Kiev has publicly admitted that it cannot regain its territory by military means.
The red line! Kiev will not cross it even in the name of peace
Ukraine has said it will never agree to recognize Russia's sovereignty over the occupied territories, even though Kiev has publicly admitted that it cannot regain the territory by military means
Apr 10, 2025 22:10 106
