Russia and Ukraine have both laid out peace terms. Is an end to war in sight? | ABC News
80 countries have supported Ukraine’s territorial integrity at a peace Summit in Switzerland over the weekend it comes just days after Russia laid out fresh conditions for a ceasefire but is the war in Ukraine any closer to ending that is always the key issue Ukraine’s ambassador to Australia vasel marchenko joins us now from canra Mr Ambassador good morning Good morning Ukraine must be boyed by that show of international support yes it was a very important uh Gathering uh of uh uh over 90 Nations and 80 have supported their final commun which reaffirmed Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty and that was a pass towards achieving a comprehensive just and sustainable peace for Ukraine as you know three major issues were discussed there including radiation and nuclear safety food security as well as a return of the Ukrainian prisoners of War as well as all those abducted Ukrainian children who in Russia we did mention though at the same time Vladimir Putin was laying down his preconditions for peace including Ukraine withdrawing from its NATO Ambitions and also handing over to Russia in its entirety for provinces what does Ukraine say to that Russia has called for for a surrender basically and let me just explain to you what actually is happening by describing a situation when somebody breaks into your house kills your son rapes your wife and then is offering you life in exchange for living in your house forever and this is what Russia is actually offering to Ukraine therefore this this proposal has been rejected what does peace look like for Ukraine what does Ukrainian need to see for as you would see it a proper peace to be conducted it’s easy it’s withdrawal of the Russian troops from the Ukrainian territory and we’ll have peace it’s is what Russia has to do how closer are we to achieving that goal or at the very least achieving an end hostilities in your view it’s it’s still a long way ahead and um it’s important to demonstrate unity and I’m very thankful to minister bill shorton that he went to of Switzerland to attend the summit and it was a very important commitment of Australia to uh to helping Ukraine acheve peace on its terms and uh and of course now it’s a matter of uh Ukraine’s ability to be able to defend um um itself uh from the Russian attacks and uh but you know the the Gathering that we’ve had in Switzerland is is is is a way ahead because nobody can can weaponize food and we have called on Russia to actually provide the clear export of foods from Ukraine but also nuclear safety where Russians are keeping the largest nuclear power plant as a hostage and uh therefore there was a call on Russia to release it and to have it operated by Ukraine and beyond that and finally uh Beyond this Summit what more does Ukraine want what more does Ukraine need need from the International Community at this stage we need to uh prop up our air defense systems uh we need to get the fire jets uh and we need to defend the cities because as I’m here Russians have again attacked um a region of pava over 23 people injured U many are also killed and it’s happening on the daily basis the Russian attacks are quite incessant destroying our civilian infrastructure but also hitting different cities uh out there in different parts of of Ukraine so at this stage we we should demonstrate strengths and the only way we can demonstrate that strengths is to demonstrate that we can defend our militarily Ukraine’s ambassador to Australia vessel marchenko really appreciate your time this morning thank you
Russia has proposed peace terms demanding Ukraine to relinquish four eastern provinces and Kyiv’s NATO membership bid, while Ukraine’s conditions include a full withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukrainian territory. Ukrainian Ambassador to Australia, Vasyl Myroshnychenko says the conflict is still ‘a long way’ away from ending because agreeing to Moscow’s proposal would mean a ‘surrender’.
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