Ukraine's Foreign Minister in NATO Rejects Ideas and Proposals on Territorial Compromise with Russia

The Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs denies the stalemate at the front and insists that there is no alternative to Ukraine regaining control over its entire territory.

Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, began his address to journalists at the NATO headquarters before the start of the first meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council by stating that Ukraine will never give up the task in the war it has set for itself.

"Our strategic task – the restoration of control over the border in 1991 – remains unchanged and nothing will stop us [in its implementation]," the minister emphasised.

The Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs did not deny that Kyiv hears ideas about "concessions" and "agreements with Russia", but he categorically ruled out such a possibility and gave a harsh answer to these proposals: "People who propose this should firstly offer something similar to their own governments – to give someone a part of their territory, their people. Let them do it, and we will see if we can discuss it."

Asked about the alleged stalemate at the front, Kuleba answered briefly: "There is no stalemate."

He also repeated the call to the US and other NATO countries to help in arming Ukraine: "The best way to avoid the participation of your soldiers in hostilities is to help those who are waging war. You give weapons – we fight, this is an honest agreement."

Hungary systematically hints at the need to give in to Russia. This week, Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Hungary, told NATO about the "failure" of the strategy on the situation in Ukraine. However, this idea does not have the support of the Alliance.

On 28 November, Kyiv approved the draft Annual National Programme (ANP) for 2024, which defines the criteria for Ukraine's eligibility for NATO membership. Dmytro Kuleba will present it at a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council.