Joining NATO instead of territories: diplomat on how Russia tries to bring Ukraine to negotiating table

He said this on Espreso TV.

When asked what to expect in the next two to three months in the war, Osypenko said: "We should not panic, we should not give in to this pressure. Why has the pressure on the frontline increased, why has the political and economic pressure on us increased? This is the maximum Russia has achieved in the war with Ukraine, they are trying to put us in a weak position at the negotiating table, to force us to sign a de facto surrender. These information injections through the Western media are pushing us to exchange territory, offering formulas: look at this, and look at that, and in exchange for territory, we will accept you into NATO. We should not fall for it.”

According to the diplomat, first of all, Ukraine needs to return our territories and people.

"I am against the fact that we will accept any formulas offered to us in the West," the international expert emphasized.

As for how the US elections will affect the war in Ukraine, Osypenko said: "If Trump wins, there will be paralysis of the American government and erosion of American democracy, unfortunately, we will not be better off, so I say that for us the window of opportunity is 2024, we should consider it as a window of opportunity.”

He emphasized that Vladimir Putin is waiting for Donald Trump, because for the Russian dictator, this candidacy is a win-win.

"If he comes to power, and if he does not come to power, he will paralyze American society; if he does, he will take revenge; if he does not, he will fight for the fact that he was not allowed to come to power, that the elections were wrong. Given all these nuances, that America is still immersed in its political processes, that there is a gap between the government and American society, all this must be taken into account and taken into account in its long-term strategy," the international expert concluded.

• Czech President Petr Pavel believes that it is currently impossible to imagine that Ukraine and Russia will be able to agree on a cessation of hostilities.
• German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that a number of countries, including Ukraine, are currently discussing a possible peace agreement with Russia at the level of security advisers.