Ukraine Signals Unconditional Readiness to Restart Peace Talks With Russia

Ukraine’s acting foreign minister, Andriy Sybiga, said on 16 July that Kyiv is prepared to resume peace negotiations with Moscow at any time and in any location. Speaking alongside Polish and Lithuanian counterparts in the Polish city of Lublin, Sybiga added that a face-to-face meeting between Presidents Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin would be the most effective path toward a cease-fire. Sybiga urged the European Union to adopt an 18th package of sanctions against Russia, arguing that sustained economic pressure is needed to draw the Kremlin back to the negotiating table. He dismissed Russian accusations that Ukraine has stalled talks as “lies and manipulation,” and said Kyiv had already accepted U.S.-led proposals for a cease-fire framework. The minister accused Moscow of shifting to “air terrorism” against civilian targets after failing to make battlefield gains, citing overnight strikes on Ukrainian cities and a recent attack on a Polish-owned factory. Despite the ongoing assaults, he insisted Ukraine’s resolve would not be broken and reiterated that Kyiv remains open to peace discussions without preconditions.