Ukraine signals openness to negotiations post-Switzerland summit

Nikiforow's statement relates to a recent interview with the deputy head of Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR), General Vadym Skibitsky. On Thursday, Skibitsky stated, "he does not see a possibility to end the war with Russia only through victory on the battlefield, and his country may be forced to negotiate with the aggressor."

President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, has repeatedly ruled out talks with the Kremlin. However, in a conversation with "The Economist" magazine, Skibitsky assessed that negotiations may be necessary.

Ukraine and Switzerland are organizing a peace summit where countries that adhere to international law and the Charter of the United Nations will develop a common negotiating position and pass it on to Russia. "It will be the first step towards a fair world," said Zelensky's spokesperson.

General Skibitsky mentioned that he does not see a way for Ukraine to win the war solely on the battlefield. "Even if it were able to push Russian forces back to the borders, which is becoming a more distant prospect, it would not end the war," reported "The Economist."

"Such wars can only end with treaties," he says. Both sides are fighting for the "most favorable position" before potential talks. However, he believes that significant negotiations could begin at the earliest in the second half of 2025 as reported by the British magazine.

Zelensky and other officials stated that Russia was not invited to the peace summit, which is to take place in June in Switzerland, because there is no guarantee that Moscow would negotiate there in good faith.

The Reuters agency reports that the head of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, Dmytro Kuleba, expressed similar thoughts to Skibitsky's. He stated that at the June summit, "countries sharing principles and stances, upon which they will base further actions, will meet."

"Afterwards, there may be communication with Russia, and it may participate in the talks (...) Ultimately, the war cannot be ended without both sides," he added.

According to "The Economist", Skibitsky assessed that currently, Ukraine's situation is the hardest since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion, and it may soon become even harder. In his opinion, Russia aims to "gain something" before the Victory Day celebrations on May 9th or the expected visit of Vladimir Putin to Beijing next week.