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Yatsenyuk: Conceding territory is a trap – Putin will only increase his demands
14.02.26

Most Ukrainians do not believe that if Ukraine gives up Donbas, Putin will be ready for a peace agreement – people clearly understand that this is a trap. This was emphasised by the Chairman of the Kyiv Security Forum, Prime Minister of Ukraine in 2014-2016, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, on France24 on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.

Responding to a journalist's question about whether Ukrainians would give up Donbas for peace, Yatsenyuk cited the results of a recent opinion poll commissioned by the Kyiv Security Forum, in which 75.2% of respondents believe that Russia will violate the agreement and attack Ukraine as soon as it suits it.

‘They clearly understand that this is a trap,’ the KSF Chairman emphasised.

According to him, Putin’s ultimate goal remains unchanged, and it is futile to count on his ‘good intentions’. ‘Putin will never allow real peace in Ukraine unless he achieves his maximum demands. His ultimate goal is to destroy Ukraine. We must realise that KGB agents never act with good intentions. Putin is pretending to negotiate," the former prime minister said.

He also stressed that any demands regarding elections in Ukraine now play into Putin's hands.

"I do not see any realistic possibility of holding free and fair elections in Ukraine without an unconditional ceasefire. It is impossible to vote under Russian shelling. First, we have to win the war. Only then, after holding free and fair democratic elections, will the Ukrainian people decide who will rule Ukraine. But only after we achieve a real peace agreement or comprehensive ceasefire agreements. Under such circumstances, we will hold free and fair elections," said the Chairman of the KSF.

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