Shmygal says it is important to coordinate Ukraine's position before dialog with Russia

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmygal believes that Kiev should have a coordinated position for negotiations with Moscow. He said this in an interview with German TV channel N-TV on Thursday, December 12.

"The next peace summit should involve many more international partner countries and need to bring Russia to the negotiating table. But in order to do that, we need a coordinated and common position," he said.

The politician expressed hope for further good relations between Kiev and the newly elected US President Donald Trump, noting his seriousness to settle the Ukrainian conflict. Shmygal emphasized that any peace talks with Russia should be conducted in accordance with international law.

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The day before, an adviser to the head of the Ukrainian president's office, Mykhailo Podolyak, said that Kiev could start negotiations with Moscow, but on the terms of a "fair" peace. He added that these should be talks on freezing the conflict, but not on Russian terms.

On December 8, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov recalled that Russian President Vladimir Putin had repeatedly said that Russia was open for talks on Ukraine and welcomed proposals from China, India, Brazil and other countries.

The last round of talks took place in Istanbul on March 29, 2022. They lasted about three hours. Later, Kiev officially refused contacts with Moscow.

The special operation to protect Donbass, the start of which was announced by the Russian president on February 24, 2022, continues. The decision was taken against the background of the worsening situation in the region.