London talks with Trump administration “not a dead end” — Ukrainian MP

He shared his opinions with Espreso TV. 

“Perhaps this is just a normal process. If we’re talking about negotiations with the current Trump administration, we can see this is their tactic: they make proposals, and if there’s no agreement, they start applying pressure. We’ve already been through this - you remember, they even stopped supplying us with weapons and intelligence. So I think the administration has made some proposals, and naturally, we didn’t agree to everything or found some parts unacceptable. In response, they’re increasing pressure on us. What happens next - that’s diplomacy and depends on what we agree to. But I definitely don’t think it’s a dead end. I’m sure our country will continue working on this, but yes, the situation is difficult - I agree with that,” he said.

At the same time, Kostenko emphasized that what he dislikes most is that it remains unclear what plan Ukraine is following in the negotiations. 

“What I dislike the most is that, while we talk to diplomats at our level, we’re left guessing about what’s being said publicly - about Crimea, for example, and its recognition. But there are many issues we know nothing about. We don’t even know the peace plan or the legal framework for a settlement. We know there are talks about a ceasefire, about peace, but what the actual terms are - not just me, but probably most members of parliament only find out bits and pieces from private conversations with ministers or diplomats who have access. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian people know nothing at all. So we just watch as they go somewhere, pressure starts being put on us again, and we end up disagreeing on something,” he said.

The MP noted that the government’s position remains unclear, as do the “red lines” for Ukraine in the negotiations.

“We don’t understand at all what our government’s position is - whether these are truly red lines they won’t cross, or if it’s about someone’s personal ambitions, or if there are unresolved issues behind the scenes. We don’t know. We’re only reacting to everything through the media, and often we learn - just like our journalists - from foreign news outlets first. That’s unacceptable, it’s wrong. We have no idea what’s happening on the diplomatic front, even though it directly affects not just the President’s Office, the Foreign Ministry, or the Defense Ministry, but the lives of everyone - soldiers on the battlefield and civilians alike. The problem is the complete lack of communication - we simply don’t understand. Despite the fact that dozens of different plans have been presented - survival plans, victory plans, resilience plans - we don’t know which one we’re actually following right now or what is really going on. Most people don’t understand either - they just read headlines in the Western press,” added Roman Kostenko.

• As previously reported, the ministerial-level peace talks that were to take place in London on April 23 were canceled. Instead, a meeting between lower-ranking diplomats was scheduled.
• On April 23, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, and Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak met with national security and foreign policy advisors from the member countries of the Coalition of the Willing in London. The parties agreed to hold further regular consultations.
• On April 23, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said that the Ukrainian delegation's talks with U.S. Special Representative Keith Kellogg in London were productive and successful.