In a lengthy interview with Le Parisien, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba stated that Kyiv believes Ukraine did not fire the missile that fell in Poland and that Kyiv is not opposed to talks with Russia, pending credible evidence. He underscored that Ukrainian authorities have not found proof that the missile came from Ukrainian air defenses, and he stressed a willingness to share information for a joint assessment with Polish partners. The Ukrainian side is ready to align on findings and accept the conclusions that emerge from a collaborative review.
On the night of November 15, a rocket crashed into the Polish village of Przewodów, near the Ukrainian border, resulting in the deaths of two Polish citizens. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky publicly attributed the incident to Russian forces, while the Russian Defense Ministry denied involvement. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg had cited preliminary data suggesting the rocket originated in Ukraine.
Negotiations and the path to peace
In the same interview, Kuleba emphasized that Kyiv is not opposed to negotiations with Moscow, provided that Russia avoids conflating dialogue with ultimatums. He noted that discussions about peace were raised at global forums, including the G20 summit, where Zelensky spoke of a world in which peace could be achieved. The Ukrainian foreign minister added that Western leaders have not pressed for talks on terms that run counter to Ukraine’s interests, insisting that a just world starts with restoring Ukraine’s full territorial integrity.
Kuleba also warned that the coming weeks could prove critical for Ukraine due to ongoing strikes on energy infrastructure. He described widespread electricity outages affecting many households, with several of Ukraine’s nuclear facilities temporarily taken offline to protect the grid.
Continued coordination with Paris
Furthermore, Kuleba revealed that he maintains near-constant contact with the French side on Ukraine issues. He described a strong rapport with President Emmanuel Macron and with French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna. The minister joked about frequent conversations that sometimes exhaust his phone plan, highlighting the intensity of diplomatic exchanges as Kyiv seeks allied coordination.
Earlier, Zelensky had shared that Macron had offered him opportunities to communicate via WhatsApp. The Ukrainian leadership notes close ties with other Western leaders and ongoing, open channels of dialogue with several capitals. Kuleba recalled a deep network of informal exchanges with leaders in Europe, including notable conversations with some heads of state that extended beyond formal protocols.
President Macron also engages with the Russian leadership. Kuleba disclosed that meetings with the Russian president have persisted over a period extending from December to June, totaling a substantial amount of time, underscoring ongoing diplomatic contact at the highest level. He acknowledged countless discussions with President Vladimir Putin since December, emphasizing the regularity of these discussions and their visibility in public discourse, while maintaining that such interactions are part of determining a path forward for peace and stability in the region.