Ukraine official rules out conflict freeze

This was stated by the advisor to the head of the President's Office, Mykhailo Podoliak, via Telegram, Ukrinform reports.

"I want the fullest possible understanding that nothing is over yet. Therefore, we must continue to fight in all directions. Russia is spending a lot of resources to prove to the world that Russians have the right to kill Ukrainians. And they are not receiving full punishment for it. That is why pro-Russian lobbyists in Europe are starting to raise their heads," the official said.

Podoliak said that yesterday the information agenda included only the oil embargo and Russian war crimes, but now "certain political mouthpieces" are offering us a new agenda: a ceasefire, frozen conflict, and surrender of certain territories for the sake of peace.

"You can offer anything to protect your comfortable feed on social networks from bad news and resume business with Russia. ‘We want to return to the old, pre-war way of life. Agree to some compromises’ – you can literally read this in some Western eyes," Podoliak said.

In this context, he stated that Ukraine would not take part in such a discussion and "does not trade its citizens, territories, or sovereignty."

"There can be no talk of freezing the conflict," said the advisor to the head of the President’s Office.

According to him, any freeze is a war that’s been postponed, already larger-scale, bloodier and better prepared by the aggressor.

"Any war ends at the negotiating table, and this one will be no exception. But negotiations will be possible only when the parties are ready to agree. To this end, Russia needs to start soberly assessing the situation. It is unlikely that statements of concessions, saving face, or freezing the conflict will contribute to this," Podoliak said.

He stressed that no one in the world is interested in the long war and food crisis, recalling that the shortest way to end the war is weapons, sanctions, and financial assistance to Ukraine.

"Ukraine was given from three days to several weeks. The Ukrainians defended Kyiv, liberated three regions, and are completing the liberation of the fourth. Today, the same people are offering us to give Russia the east and the south. Appreciate  your advice, but we will probably take help with weapons," added the advisor to the head of the President's Office.

Former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger earlier told a conference at the World Economic Forum in Davos that Ukraine should cede part of its territory to Russia, while the United States and the West should not count on Russia being defeated in the war.

Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba assured that Ukraine will not make concessions to Putin, because the strategy of appeasing him from 2014 to the beginning of a full-scale invasion has already failed and has no chance of success in the future.