Reznikov replied to Shoigu in Feb: I am ready to accept only Russia's capitulation

Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov spoke about the ultimatum presented to him by his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu in the first days of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

That's according to The Washington Post, Ukrinform reports.

On February 22, Reznikov had spoken over the phone with his counterpart in Belarus, Viktor Khrenin, who promised that Russian forces on Belarusian territory would not invade — offering his word as an officer, the Ukrainian defense minister said.

"And he was a liar," Reznikov said.

Two days later, after the invasion had begun, the two men spoke again. Reznikov heard a nervous and uncomfortable voice on the other end of the line. The Belarusian minister said he was conveying a message from his Russian counterpart, Sergei Shoigu, Reznikov recalled: If Ukraine would sign an act of capitulation, the invasion would stop.

Reznikov said he replied, "I am ready to accept the capitulation from the Russian side."