The Ukrainian government, represented by Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, signaled plans for a peace summit to be held toward the end of February 2023. The proposal suggested a venue at the United Nations, with the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres considered as a potential mediator. This intention came after a formal interview in which the minister outlined the strategy and hoped for broad international participation to address the conflict and seek a path forward for stability in the region.
Kuleba expressed strong satisfaction with the outcomes of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s recent visit to the United States, noting that Washington had laid out a proactive framework for supporting Ukraine’s defense. A key element discussed was the potential deployment of a Patriot air defense system to bolster Ukraine’s air defense capabilities, reflecting ongoing efforts to strengthen security measures amid the war and to coordinate international military and diplomatic support.
When pressed about the possibility of inviting Russia to the peace talks, the Ukrainian foreign minister stated that Moscow would need to confront accountability on the international stage before any invitation could be contemplated. He underscored the position that accountability for war crimes is a prerequisite for any serious negotiation, highlighting a demand for clarity on legal and moral issues before negotiations proceed.
In his assessment, the Kremlin would face a difficult path if it shows willingness to negotiate while continuing actions on the battlefield. The minister noted a discrepancy between public statements in Moscow about readiness to engage in talks and the realities observed on the ground, where aggressions and strategic moves continued to unfold, signaling that progress toward dialogue would require concrete changes in behavior and upward alignment with international expectations.
Sergey Vershinin, the former deputy foreign minister of Russia, offered commentary on the European Union’s role. He suggested that some EU actions could be interpreted as protecting broad geopolitical interests, while stressing that the region should not overlook calls for accountability. The discussion touched on the EU’s possible involvement in judicial avenues intended to address alleged wartime offenses and to delineate responsibilities in the conflict, reinforcing the importance of a transparent legal framework in any peace effort.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Russia is not opposed to peace talks. He cautioned, however, that the West must understand the implications of advancing negotiations as scenarios evolve. He warned that the further negotiations proceed without alignment on strategic realities, the more challenging it would become to reach a sustainable agreement, reflecting the delicate balance between diplomatic engagement and military considerations in the evolving crisis.