The Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro kulebasaid in an interview with the Associated Press that the Ukrainian government aims to hold a peace summit by the end of February, preferably at the United Nations with Secretary General António Guterres as a possible mediator, around the time of the first anniversary of the invasion launched by Russia.
When asked if they will invite Russia to the summit, Kuleba replied that Moscow will first have to accept being prosecuted for war crimes by an international tribunal: "Only in this way can they be invited". Regarding the location of the summit, Kuleba said “The United Nations could be the best place to hold this summit, because it's not about doing a favor to a particular country. It's really about getting everyone on board."
Regarding Guterres' role, “he proved to be an efficient mediator and negotiator and, above all, a man of principle and integrity. So we would be delighted with his active participation,” the minister said in an interview posted on the PA website. The Foreign Minister then again downplayed the words of the Russian authorities according to which they would be ready for negotiations. “They regularly say they are ready for negotiations, which they are not, because everything they do on the battlefield proves otherwise.” According to Kuleba, Ukraine will do everything possible to win the war in 2023, and diplomacy always plays an important role. “Every war ends diplomatically,” he said. “Every war ends as a result of actions taken on the battlefield and at the negotiating table.” The minister later said he was "absolutely satisfied" with the results of President Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to the United States last week, and revealed that the US government has drawn up a special plan to make the Patriot missile battery operational in the country. in less than six months. Usually, the training lasts up to a year.
Kuleba yesterday announced his request for the exclusion of Russia from the United Nations Security Council and from the UN itself. “We will officially state our position. We have a very simple question: does Russia have the right to remain a permanent member of the Security Council and to be part of the UN?” Kuleba said speaking late yesterday evening during a nationally televised Christmas marathon. “We have a convincing and reasoned answer: no, it hasn't,” he said. The Ukrainian foreign minister recalled that the issue of Russia's permanent seat on the UN Security Council - also held by the United States, the United Kingdom, France and China - is already under discussion in diplomatic circles. Stating that the issue has not yet been raised in press conferences and public statements by state and government leaders, Kuleba stressed that “at a lower level, people are already asking themselves the question of what Russia should become in order not to represent a threat to peace and security".