A top Russian official warned Ukraine on Tuesday that delaying peace talks would result in tougher terms for its people. Moscow has stipulated that any discussions must involve Ukraine ceding a fifth of its territory—much of which has been occupied by Russian forces—and abandoning any aspirations of joining the Western-led NATO alliance.
Ukraine has firmly rejected these conditions. Sergei Shoigu, the secretary of Russia’s Security Council and former defense minister, noted that since President Vladimir Putin proposed peace terms on June 14, Ukraine has lost 420 square kilometers of territory and suffered significant casualties.
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“The window of opportunity for Ukraine is narrowing,” Shoigu was quoted by state television, emphasizing that Ukraine’s inaction would result in further territorial losses.
Shoigu criticized the Kyiv regime’s belief that Europe would broker a favorable peace summit to resolve its internal issues, stating, “The Kyiv regime’s illusions that the Europeans will arrange another beautiful peace summit, … at which all their internal problems will be resolved by themselves, are costing the people of Ukraine dearly.”
While Shoigu provided figures for Ukrainian troop losses, these numbers could not be independently verified, as neither side publicly details its casualties.
Since the invasion in 2022, Russia controls approximately 18% of Ukraine, including Crimea, which it annexed in 2014. Russia also occupies parts of four southeastern Ukrainian regions, which Putin insists must be fully ceded by Kyiv.
Although Putin has indicated a willingness to agree to a ceasefire based on current battlefield lines, he is prepared to continue fighting if Kyiv and its Western allies do not engage. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba stated last month that Kyiv is open to negotiations provided Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as recognized by most UN member states, are fully upheld.
(Includes inputs from online sources)
