Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has said the death of Yevgeny Prigozhin – the Russian mercenary leader whose plane crashed weeks after he led a mutiny against Moscow’s military leadership – shows what happens when people make deals with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

As Ukraine’s counteroffensive moves into a fourth month, with only modest gains to show so far, Zelensky told CNN’s Fareed Zakaria he rejected suggestions it was time to negotiate peace with the Kremlin.

“When you want to have a compromise or a dialogue with somebody, you cannot do it with a liar,” Volodymyr Zelensky said.

  • vacuumflower@lemmy.sdf.org
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    1 year ago

    I would understand if at least 20% of the Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel would be comprised of western volunteers talking about terrorists and no negotiations.

    But that is not a thing. So looks a bit ballsy, cause one would think that in a rather apocalyptic war on Ukraine’s soil, after they’ve reclaimed large swathes of territory, they’d be interested in some reduction of monthly casualties and rebuilding various capacities on that territory. Which a ceasefire would provide.

    I mean, even if you are right, you are eagerly advocating for spending mobilized Ukrainian lives on a costly offensive.

    • Badass_panda@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      what a ceasefire would provide

      Like the 2014 ceasefire? All it does is give Russia the opportunity to retrench and dig in. When the Ukrainians ask for a ceasefire, then I’ll support one.

      • vacuumflower@lemmy.sdf.org
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        1 year ago

        Like every ceasefire.

        I suppose right now Ukraine just wants some better guarantees while it has a strong negotiating position.

        So that it takes some effort from Putin to even be heard.

        Or maybe what Zelensky says is what he means, you can’t negotiate with a pathological liar (just like a few of Ukraine’s allies, though) who doesn’t know how to lose with dignity. Be it a person or a whole elite of some country, like Russia. I mean, emotionally I’ve met some and I’d agree. Just don’t know what it is rationally.

      • vacuumflower@lemmy.sdf.org
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        1 year ago

        The word “genocide” means something else (which, in case of Turkey and China and even Yazidis in Syria, most of the world has problems recognizing).

        Yes, but Ukrainians need to regroup too.

          • vacuumflower@lemmy.sdf.org
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            1 year ago

            Murdering, kidnapping and brainwashing Ukrainian children is genocide.

            Then we’ll have to introduce degrees of genocide.

            Attempting to exterminate the Ukrainian people is genocide.

            Which is not happening.

    • abbenm@lemmy.ml
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      1 year ago

      I would understand if at least 20% of the Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel would be comprised of western volunteers talking about terrorists and no negotiations.

      Now do Russia. There must be more western volunteers on that side, I take it?