It is too soon to talk about a peaceful end of the war in Ukraine, said Ukrainian Ambassador to Poland Vasyl Bodnar in an interview with TVP World on Saturday.
The diplomat spoke about peace negotiations, a potential mineral deal with the U.S. and the possibility of holding elections.
“It is still to far [away] too to speak about peace,” Bodnar said, when asked about the ongoing discussion between the U.S. and Russia.
The ambassador stressed that Russia started the war and is killing Ukrainian citizens.
He said the West needs to agree on a common position to: “Punish the aggressor and create the conditions for just and fair peace. That's our task and we are also discussing these ideas with our American colleagues.”
“It is still to far [away] too to speak about peace,” Bodnar said, when asked about the ongoing discussion between the U.S. and Russia.
The ambassador stressed that Russia started the war and is killing Ukrainian citizens.
He said the West needs to agree on a common position to: “Punish the aggressor and create the conditions for just and fair peace. That's our task and we are also discussing these ideas with our American colleagues.”
‘Lines open’
Bodnar highlighted Zelenskyy was the initiator of the minerals deal with the U.S. when he put forward his peace plan.
Despite the negative media coverage of the controversial deal, the diplomat said there is “good dialogue” between the two countries’ foreign ministers and presidential offices.
He hoped an agreement could be struck in the coming days that will be “beneficial to both sides.”
But he said Ukraine must get good terms as the economy is “already suffering” and the money will be needed to finance the country’s reconstruction.
The ambassador said the “lines are open” for discussions: “And I believe we will find a ground together.”
Despite the negative media coverage of the controversial deal, the diplomat said there is “good dialogue” between the two countries’ foreign ministers and presidential offices.
He hoped an agreement could be struck in the coming days that will be “beneficial to both sides.”
But he said Ukraine must get good terms as the economy is “already suffering” and the money will be needed to finance the country’s reconstruction.
The ambassador said the “lines are open” for discussions: “And I believe we will find a ground together.”
‘Dangerous’ elections
In recent days, senior U.S. officials including President Donald Trump have criticized Ukraine for not holding elections during wartime, questioning the country’s democratic credentials and even
calling President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a “dictator”.
The ambassador pushed back on these accusations saying, that if this were peacetime, Ukraine would be the “first” to want to hold these elections.
Surveys have shown there is wide support to suspend the vote, including from the opposition, Bodnar said.
He said holding elections would be difficult to organize: “We still have flying Iranian drones and Russian missiles everywhere.”
Additionally, it would be “dangerous” and divide society’s unity.
“We wouldn’t like to create more favorable conditions for the Russian side, which would like to disperse Ukrainian society, to feel us weaker and to use the situation for the continuing attacks on us,” he said, speaking about possible polarization.
The ambassador pushed back on these accusations saying, that if this were peacetime, Ukraine would be the “first” to want to hold these elections.
Surveys have shown there is wide support to suspend the vote, including from the opposition, Bodnar said.
He said holding elections would be difficult to organize: “We still have flying Iranian drones and Russian missiles everywhere.”
Additionally, it would be “dangerous” and divide society’s unity.
“We wouldn’t like to create more favorable conditions for the Russian side, which would like to disperse Ukrainian society, to feel us weaker and to use the situation for the continuing attacks on us,” he said, speaking about possible polarization.
‘Just peace’
Bodnar said Russia must pay for what it has done in Ukraine and its frozen assets should be used for this purpose.
“We should have the common ground, together with our Western alliance on this, how to push Russia to pay for their retributions,” he told the show.
The diplomat also stressed the need for a “just peace” and added Russia’s actions “should not be forgotten” in the future.
“We have Russia who have been conducting crimes from the collapse of the Soviet Union in different countries and have never been punished for their illegal activities,” he said.
Bodnar returned to the topic of negotiations at the end of the interview, saying: “Discussions with a bear that would like to eat you have nothing to do with reality”
“We should have the common ground, together with our Western alliance on this, how to push Russia to pay for their retributions,” he told the show.
The diplomat also stressed the need for a “just peace” and added Russia’s actions “should not be forgotten” in the future.
“We have Russia who have been conducting crimes from the collapse of the Soviet Union in different countries and have never been punished for their illegal activities,” he said.
Bodnar returned to the topic of negotiations at the end of the interview, saying: “Discussions with a bear that would like to eat you have nothing to do with reality”
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