Ukraine's Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister, Mariana Betsa, has stated that Russia is not ready to end its three-year invasion.
The official also affirmed that Ukraine will not accept any territorial compromises in a deal, insisting that Kyiv does not want “peace at any price.”
In an interview with The Sun, Betsa said, “No one should be fooled by Russia,” arguing that President Vladimir Putin cannot be trusted.
Betsa accused the Kremlin of frustrating negotiations by delaying the ceasefire process, despite Kyiv's commitment to peace talks.
“We cannot trust Russia. Russia lies, and they know how to lie,” the minister asserted, recalling past consultations regarding the ceasefire.
Betsa emphasised that Ukraine had “engaged in good faith” during “intense discussions” with United States officials early in March.
“We agreed to a truce in the sky, a truce at sea,” she disclosed. “We agreed to a ceasefire at the front. It was the 11th of March, and Russia imposed conditions.”
Betsa said that while the scope of the conditions was being worked out, Russia resumed shelling, which has since claimed many lives.
“They started bombing us with even greater intensity, and so many people have been killed throughout this month,” the minister lamented.
“I think the answer is that Russia doesn't really want peace in Ukraine and shows no remorse—no actions towards achieving this goal.”
