Arakhamiia indicates when Ukraine will resume negotiations with Russia
KATERYNA TYSHCHENKO — FRIDAY, 3 JUNE 2022, 20:04
DAVYD ARAKHAMIIA, NURPHOTO VIA GETTY IMAGES
Davyd Arakhamiia, a People's Deputy and the leader of the Ukrainian group negotiating with the Russians, says that Ukraine can initiate a new round of negotiations with the Russian Federation when it has strengthened its negotiating position.
Source: Arakhamiia on a 24-hour news broadcast
Quote: "The negotiations should be continued when our negotiating position has been strengthened. And, first of all, now it can be strengthened due to the fact that the weapons that our international partners are constantly promising us will eventually arrive in sufficient quantities. Our Armed Forces are already ready to use them... And then, I think, we can initiate a new round of negotiations from an enhanced negotiating position."
Details: Arakhamiia expressed the opinion that the present pause in negotiations is "quite justified", as "big battles" are underway in eastern Ukraine.
He noted that Ukraine is now de-occupying many villages, but the Russians are also occupying new settlements.
"And while we are taking one step forward and two steps back, I don't see any reason yet to initiate the resumption of negotiations," he said.
Background:
- On 17 May, the Russian Foreign Ministry stated that negotiations with Ukraine were not underway since Kyiv had actually withdrawn from the negotiation process.
- Mykhailo Podoliak, adviser to the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, confirmed that negotiations with Russia have currently been paused for a number of reasons.
- President Volodymyr Zelenskyy believes that it makes sense to negotiate only with Russian President Vladimir Putin; negotiations with all other representatives of the Russian Federation do not matter at all.
- On 28 May, Putin said in a telephone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz that Russia was prepared to continue negotiations with Ukraine.
- Later, Serhii Nikiforov, the press secretary of the President of Ukraine, said that Volodymyr Zelenskyy does not rule out the possibility of tripartite telephone conversations with the presidents of Turkey and Russia.