The lifting of sanctions against the Russian Federation can only be considered as part of the process of finally ending the war it started, and not as an instrument or bargaining chip to organize the negotiation process. This was stated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an interview with journalist Alla Mazur, emphasizing the unacceptability of attempts to buy Moscow's loyalty at the cost of lifting existing international restrictions.
Kyiv's position on sanctions pressure
The Head of the Ukrainian State emphasized that restrictive measures against Russia were introduced by the world community in response to direct military aggression, rather than to create comfortable conditions for consultations or dialogue. According to him, attempts to soften sanctions policy before achieving a sustainable peace are perceived by the Russian side as a signal of weakness and approval of further forceful actions. Zelenskyy noted that he would not want to approach the topic of lifting sanctions pressure within the framework of potential trilateral meetings or contacts.
Context of international diplomatic efforts
The statements of the Ukrainian leader came against the backdrop of ongoing discussions on diplomatic ways to resolve the conflict. Earlier, US President's Special Envoy Steve Witkoff handed over a document to the Russian side with developments on ending hostilities in Ukraine. At the same time, official Kyiv has repeatedly stated that any real steps towards de-escalation must be accompanied by strict security guarantees, and discussion of territorial integrity, neutrality, or artificial limitation of the size of the Ukrainian army is excluded.
Reciprocity of steps and energy security
The issue of possible compromises is closely linked by the Ukrainian side with the cessation of Russian strikes on critical infrastructure and residential areas. Earlier, Zelenskyy noted Ukraine's readiness for mirror steps in terms of stopping strikes on energy facilities if Moscow takes similar actions. Nevertheless, the practice of recent massive shelling of Ukrainian cities demonstrates the preservation of escalation by Russian troops, which makes any talk of premature concessions impossible.
Significance and potential consequences of a tough stance
The refusal of the Ukrainian leadership to make concessions on sanctions and security forms a rigid framework for future international peace initiatives. Maintaining sanctions pressure is viewed by Kyiv and its allies as a basic tool for deterring the aggressor, guaranteeing that any diplomatic agreements will be based on real responsibility for the unleashed war, rather than temporary compromises.
