Quotes
Both leaders for now probably still see the risks of a longer war as less than those of an unsatisfying settlement,
concluded an annual threat assessment by America’s 18 intelligence agencies published on March 25th
I think we have great conversations with the Americans. I think we are back on track,
he noted
Dear American friends, you understand that we are partners. This was our goal,
he saidEither they will see that accountability for aggression and international crimes is a real thing and thus be deterred from such behavior, or they will conclude that law is only for the weak and can be ignored by those with power. In this latter case, we will return to a world where brute force has currency and where tyranny is allowed once again to triumph over the rule of law,
he added
If smaller countries do not accept the demands of larger powers and do not make a deal, then the smaller powers are actually to blame for inciting wars and resistance is a bad decision, because it brings death and destruction,
a Ukrainian diplomat told POLITICO, requesting anonymity to be able to speak candidly,
I think [the U.S.] has a completely different goal, looking at this situation from a short-term perspective. At this stage, their task is to achieve peace, as they see it. And in this case, quite often justice and peace are mutually contradictory categories,
said MatviichukThe current U.S. administration chooses concessions, flattery and bargaining instead of pressure on Russia,
a senior Ukrainian official familiar with the matter told POLITICO, speaking on condition of being granted anonymityJustice is a prerequisite for sustainable peace, especially when we are talking about Russia, which has been using wars as a method of achieving its political interests for decades, and for decades has been using war crimes as a method of winning those wars,
Matviichuk saidWe cannot leave them to die and be tortured under Russian occupation. This is not just changing one flag for another. Russian occupation does not reduce human suffering, it simply makes it invisible,
Matviichuk said
I believe Russia has managed to influence some people on the White House team through information,
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told Time magazineThe long-term outcome of the ongoing ceasefire talks will not only determine Ukraine’s future as a sovereign nation but will also shape the future of international law and global order,
he said in a statement to POLITICO,War crimes have no statute of limitation,
Matviichuk saidThey would never give me a Nobel Peace Prize. I deserve it, but they would never give it to me,
Trump said last monthThe best way to believe otherwise would be Russia’s strict adherence to the agreements reached in Saudi Arabia — at the very least, the initial agreements on an unconditional ceasefire. And then move forward toward a truly sustainable peace,
Yermak said
It shows that they (Russia) did not accept an unconditional ceasefire, which is nonsense,
he saidOur task is to come out with the result of understanding who we have and who is ready" to contribute forces to implement measures to halt the conflict
Zelensky said
Given the difficulty in enforcing a halt to strikes on energy infrastructure agreed upon last week, it remains to be seen how effective the latest deal will be,
The Independent, a British online newspaper, reportedOver the past three years, there has been a major escalation, and the situation has changed," making it "difficult for both sides to find compromises,
Kortunov saidIn 2022, several rounds of negotiations took place ... in the end, nothing came of it,
said Andrey Kortunov, a scholar with the Valdai Discussion Club in RussiaGiven the sad experience of agreements with just Kiev, the guarantees can only be the result of an order from Washington to (Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelensky and his team,
Lavrov said