Russia bluffs and drags out talks: Melnyk at UN Security Council

Ukraine’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Andrii Melnyk, said the Kremlin is trying to create a false impression of the situation on the battlefield and is using diplomacy as a tool to prolong the war. He made the remarks during a meeting of the UN Security Council, Ukrinform reported from New York.

According to the diplomat, Russia is engaged in an information campaign aimed at convincing the world of its supposed “inevitable victory”, despite the fact that the real situation on the battlefield is deteriorating for Moscow.

"We are witnessing a well-staged performance that Moscow continues to play out," Melnyk said.

He stressed that the Kremlin’s negotiating position is based on bluff and manipulation. Russia, he said, claims to be open to talks while at the same time putting forward conditions that effectively amount to Ukraine’s capitulation.

Melnyk noted that in more than four years of full-scale war, Russia has failed to achieve any of its strategic goals. During that time, Russian forces have occupied only about 9,300 square kilometres of Ukrainian territory.

"This is the longest "three-day blitzkrieg" in history, now stretching into its fifth year," he said.

At the current pace, he added, it would take Russia centuries to capture all of Ukraine, prompting Moscow to seek political concessions where it has failed militarily.

He also pointed to contradictions in Russia’s demands, noting that the Kremlin insists on elections in Ukraine while refusing to agree to a ceasefire, without which they cannot be held.

Melnyk said Ukrainian forces are shifting the situation on the battlefield, adding that in just one month they had liberated areas comparable in size to several districts of New York City.

Russia, meanwhile, faces economic strain, including stagnation, budget shortfalls and dwindling resources, complicating its ability to finance the war, he said.

Despite this, Ukraine remains committed to a peaceful resolution and is ready to continue talks with U.S. mediation, Melnyk added.

"We never were, and will never be, an obstacle to comprehensive, just, and lasting peace, and are ready to continue negotiations with U.S. mediation," Melnyk said.