Ukraine official names prerequisite for talks with Russia

That’s according to Mykhailo Podyak, the advisor to the head of the Ukrainian President’s Office, Ukrinform reports.

“The basis for real negotiations with RF is the complete withdrawal of Russian armed groups beyond the internationally recognized borders of Ukraine in 1991,” the official wrote on Twitter.

This includes Crimea, Podyak emphasized.

He went on to stress that “any territorial concessions or bargaining of our sovereign rights” are off the table.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, the Eurean Union said in a statement during the OSCE Permanent Council meeting that Ukraine had the right to liberate and regain full contr of all temporarily occupied territories within its internationally recognized borders, including Crimea.

On February 26, 2023, the participants in the International Crimea Platform issued a Joint Statement reiterating their unwavering support for the sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.

The Joint Statement was supported by the Council of Eure, EU, GUAM, Australia, Austria, Albania, Andorra, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Georgia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Mdova, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Pand, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Türke, Ukraine, and UK.