"Our land is not for sale": Ukraine states red lines for peace talks at UN Security Council

Khrystyna Haiovyshyn, Deputy Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the UN, has stated during a meeting of the UN Security Council that Ukraine is ready to engage constructively on the peace plan, a draft of which it has received from the United States. However, she outlined clear and inviolable red lines concerning the country's territorial integrity and sovereignty.

Source: live broadcast of the UN Security Council meeting

Details: During her speech, Haiovyshyn noted that since the beginning of the year, Ukraine has supported proposals aimed at ending the war and remains open to cooperation with the United States, Europe and partners worldwide. The diplomat stressed that Ukraine's pursuit of peace has been its position since the first days of the full-scale invasion, whereas every Russian missile is evidence that Moscow chooses escalation rather than dialogue.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's representative clearly outlined the key red lines.

Quote: "First, while Ukraine stands ready to engage in meaningful negotiations to end this war, including at the leaders' level, our red lines are clear and unwavering.

There will never be any recognition, formal or otherwise, of Ukrainian territory temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation as Russian.

Our land is not for sale. Ukraine will not accept any limits on its right to self-defence or on the size and capabilities of our armed forces.

Nor will we tolerate any infringement on our sovereignty, including our sovereign right to choose the alliances we want to join.

Any joint peace process must respect a fundamental principle: nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine, and nothing about Europe without Europe.

And let me be equally clear: we will not reward the genocidal intent that underpins Russian aggression by undermining our identity, including our language."

Details: Haiovyshyn also stressed that achieving peace requires strengthening support for Ukraine – both financial and military.

"Reinforcing Ukraine's defence capabilities is not an escalation. It is the only path to compelling Russia to engage constructively in international peace efforts," she noted.

Quote: "The Kremlin regime will not stop unless it is stopped through unyielding and consorted pressure. [...] If we fail to stop Russia now, its aggression will not end with Ukraine.

It will continue to export war, occupation and repression. It will commit more atrocities, torture, inhuman treatment of civilians and prisoners of war, widespread sexual violence, the abduction of children, the destruction of cultural heritage and environmental devastation. [...]

History will be a merciless judge if Russia is eventually rewarded for its war of aggression instead of being held accountable."

Details: At the end of her address, Haiovyshyn reiterated Ukraine's call on the UN Security Council to adopt a resolution demanding a full, immediate and unconditional ceasefire, which, she said, is a necessary precondition for launching constructive negotiations and creating space for diplomacy.

Background:

• President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has officially received the draft plan from the US side and agreed to discuss it.
• Information about the new US "peace plan" appeared in several American media outlets on 19 November.
• These reports said that the plan envisaged handing over the entire Donbas to Russia, as well as requiring Ukraine to limit its arsenal, halve its armed forces and agree to Russian as a second state language.
• EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas noted that the European Union welcomes efforts to end the war in Ukraine, but any such plan must involve both Ukraine and Europe.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!