Podolyak on Jeddah meeting: Not all countries understand why Russia must leave Ukraine’s territory

08.08.2023 03:16

Ukrinform

The lack of understanding by some countries why Russia must leave the territories of Ukraine to end the war was one of the most difficult issues on the sidelines of the summit in Saudi Arabia.

"The most difficult thing is always the discussion of the issue that Russia must leave the territory of Ukraine. Some countries, certainly not all, which have taken a pro-Ukrainian position since the beginning of this war, understand everything clearly, while some countries continue to think that this is a matter of territorial nuances. It is implied that the Russian Federation is attacking the territory for the sake of this territory – we are talking about the east of Ukraine. To leave something to the Russian Federation, even a small part, will mean that the war is simply postponed to the next stages," Mykhailo Podolyak, adviser to the Head of the President's Office, made such a statement on the air of Radio Liberty.

He said that "certain countries continue to think that Russia and Ukraine have some territorial disputes."

Podolyak explained that "not all countries understand the nature of the Russian-Ukrainian war." He stated that "negotiations without Russia’s defeat discredit international law."

"Some countries do not have a deep understanding of this conflict, moreover, some countries continue to consider Russia capable of conducting large-scale military campaigns. It is difficult to explain that if we want to finalize the war itself, to find its finale, then Russia must lose. If we want to continue the war, and thus discredit international law as much as possible, then we need to agree on something with the Russian Federation. Not everyone understands this, and these are the most difficult issues," Podolyak said.

The adviser also added that "circumvention of sanctions allows suppliers to earn even more than they earned when they traded with the Russian Federation directly."

As reported, a second meeting at the level of national security advisers and political directors regarding the key principles of peace based on the Peace Formula of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky was held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on August 5-6.

According to Deputy Head of the President’s Office Ihor Zhovkva, the responsibilities between the countries regarding co-organization or co-leadership in this or that point of the Ukrainian Peace Formula were discussed during the meeting.