Latest news with #Sibiga
Russia Today
18-03-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Ukraine won't recognize ‘occupied territories'
Ukraine will never recognize Russia's sovereignty over the territories it has lost to Moscow since 2014, Foreign Minister Andrey Sibiga has insisted. Kiev still claims Crimea, the Donetsk, and Lugansk People's Republics, as well as Kherson and Zaporozhye Regions as its own. The territories officially became part of Russia after referendums in 2014 and 2022. Moscow has maintained that their status cannot be a matter of any future negotiations. When asked about Kiev's 'red lines' during an interview with RBK-Ukraine media outlet on Monday, Sibiga said that 'there are fundamental things that are non-negotiable,' mentioning 'Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty' as the prime example of such issues. 'Ukraine will never recognize the occupied territories,' the diplomat clarified. The minister also pointed out that Kiev will not accept any third parties dictating to it which blocs it can join and which it cannot. While acknowledging that there is no consensus on Ukraine's potential accession to NATO among the bloc's current members, the official still argued that these aspirations 'cannot be taken off the agenda.'When launching military action against the neighboring country in February 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin cited the prospect of Ukraine joining NATO as one of the prime reasons behind the third point on which Ukraine is not prepared to budge, according to Sibiga, is the number of personnel in its armed forces, and its stated that the recent US-Ukrainian negotiations in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, indicated Kiev's willingness to accept a 30-day ceasefire proposed by Washington. However, he stressed that Ukraine seeks a comprehensive peace agreement with Moscow rather than just freezing the conflict. The Kremlin has consistently spoken out against the prospect of a frozen conflict. Speaking to ABC News on Sunday, US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz dismissed Ukraine's NATO membership as 'incredibly unlikely,' while adding that a within potential settlement to the conflict there 'is going to be some type of territory for future security guarantees' for Kiev. A report from the British outlet The Independent on Sunday, citing anonymous Ukrainian officials, indicated that Kiev has accepted the current static battle lines, with Russia retaining some territory, for now. However, officials stressed to the outlet that Ukraine will not concede any additional land, particularly in the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions, which Russia claims but are under Ukrainian control.
Russia Today
17-03-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Kiev rejects Putin's offer of mercy for troops in Kursk
Ukraine's forces in Russia's Kursk Region will continue their operations, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrey Sibiga stated in an interview on Saturday, despite the troops being largely encircled, according to both Moscow and Washington. Speaking with Japan's NHK, Sibiga claimed that Kiev had achieved its main objectives in the offensive but sees having a continued presence on Russian territory as providing leverage in future peace negotiations. Ukraine launched its incursion across the internationally recognized Russian border into Kursk Region last August, capturing the town of Sudzha and numerous villages. However, the Russian military quickly halted the advance and has since been reclaiming lost ground. Russian General Staff Chief Valery Gerasimov said on Wednesday that 86% of the land previously occupied by Ukrainian forces had been retaken, leaving the remaining troops 'encircled' and 'isolated.' 'As officially announced by General [Aleksandr] Syrsky, we are continuing the operation in Kursk Region and will continue to do so,' Sibiga stated. 'The operation in Kursk Region is an important factor and a key point of discussion in future peace negotiations,' he added. The fate of the Ukrainian troops fighting in Kursk was addressed by Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this week. Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, he said that he was open to the idea of a 30-day ceasefire proposed by Washington and Kiev at their recent talks in Saudi Arabia but stressed that the issue of the incursion forces, among others, must be resolved before Moscow could agree. On Friday, US President Donald Trump acknowledged that 'thousands of Ukrainian troops are completely surrounded by the Russian military and in a very bad and vulnerable position' in Kursk Region and urged Moscow to 'spare' their lives. In response, Putin offered the servicemen guaranteed safety and merciful treatment if they surrender. Kiev, meanwhile, has staunchly denied that its forces in Kursk Region are surrounded. In a post on Telegram on Saturday, Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky acknowledged that the situation in the area is 'difficult' for Ukraine but stated that 'there is no encirclement of our troops.'
Russia Today
16-03-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Kiev vows to continue offensive in Russia's Kursk region
Ukraine's forces in Russia's Kursk region will continue their operations, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrey Sibiga stated in an interview on Saturday, despite the troops being largely encircled, according to both Moscow and Washington. Speaking with Japan's NHK, Sibiga claimed that Kiev had achieved its main objectives in the offensive but sees having a continued presence on Russian territory as providing leverage in future peace negotiations. Ukraine launched its incursion across the internationally recognized Russian border into Kursk Region last August, capturing the town of Sudzha and numerous villages. However, the Russian military quickly halted the advance and has since been reclaiming lost ground. Russian General Staff Chief Valery Gerasimov said on Wednesday that 86% of the land previously occupied by Ukrainian forces had been retaken, leaving the remaining troops 'encircled' and 'isolated.' 'As officially announced by General [Aleksandr] Syrsky, we are continuing the operation in Kursk Region and will continue to do so,' Sibiga stated. 'The operation in Kursk Region is an important factor and a key point of discussion in future peace negotiations,' he added. The fate of the Ukrainian troops fighting in Kursk was addressed by Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this week. Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, he said that he was open to the idea of a 30-day ceasefire proposed by Washington and Kiev at their recent talks in Saudi Arabia but stressed that the issue of the incursion forces, among others, must be resolved before Moscow could agree. On Friday, US President Donald Trump acknowledged that 'thousands of Ukrainian troops are completely surrounded by the Russian military and in a very bad and vulnerable position' in Kursk Region and urged Moscow to 'spare' their lives. In response, Putin offered the servicemen guaranteed safety and merciful treatment if they surrender. Kiev, meanwhile, has staunchly denied that its forces in Kursk Region are surrounded. In a post on Telegram on Saturday, Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky acknowledged that the situation in the area is 'difficult' for Ukraine but stated that 'there is no encirclement of our troops.'
