According to Kuleba, the ambiguity about Kiev’s EU prospects that has been pursued up to now by “some EU capitals” has only encouraged Russian President Vladimir Putin. He was referring to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which began on February 24.
The Ukrainian leadership also made its position on a possible resumption of peace negotiations clear. Ukrainian negotiator Mykhailo Podoliak wrote on Twitter: “As long as Russia is not ready to completely release our country, our negotiating platform consists of weapons, sanctions and money.” Russian troops have occupied large parts of eastern and southern Ukraine. In addition, in 2014 Russia incorporated the Ukrainian Black Sea peninsula of Crimea.
In negotiations that began shortly after the war began and are currently on hold, Moscow had demanded that Kyiv recognize Crimea as Russian territory and the eastern Ukrainian regions of Luhansk and Donetsk as independent states.