Yermak announces when talks on a lasting peace would begin

Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Andriy Yermak, stated that real negotiations for a lasting peace would begin only when Russia run out of resources to continue the war.

Yermak made this statement during a meeting of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities in Lviv, "Suspilne" reports.

Yermak outlined the condition for starting peace talks:

"I emphasize once again that help is given only to the strong, so we must remain strong. Real negotiations for a lasting peace will begin only when the enemy no longer has the resources to continue the war. An incredibly large amount of work lies ahead," the official said.

He reminded that in October, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented the "Victory Plan," which outlined Ukraine's position and specifies practical mechanisms to end the war and achieve a just peace. Yermak noted that 1087 out of 1261 local councils in Ukraine have already adopted appeals calling for support of this plan.

"The results largely depend on the positions of our key partners: the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Denmark, Poland, Norway, Japan, the Netherlands, and other countries of the European Union and the world. Our regions continue significant work with partners in these countries," Yermak said.

Yermak also stresses that peace will not happen unless Russia is forced into it.

"Our enemy does not want to end the war; it wants our surrender – ours and that of our allies. If Russia is not forced into a just peace, there will be no peace. There will be a pause, and Moscow will use this pause to restore its strength and resume its offensive," the official emphasized.

Read also:

• Putin doesn't want to end the war but is preparing for it: a diplomat on the situation in Russia

• "Christmas Truce": the Office of the President reported whether Orban proposed a ceasefire

• The most difficult type of combat in military practice: the Ukrainian Armed Forces talk about the tough defense of a city in Donetsk region

• Russia's missile usage for strikes on Ukraine's energy system revealed