Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Monday that his government intends to hold a peace summit by the end of February, preferably at the United Nations, with Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as a possible mediator, around the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. the Associated Press reports. But Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told the Associated Press that Russia could be invited to such a summit only if the country appeared before the war crimes tribunal for the first time.

Kuleba also said that he was “absolutely satisfied” with the results of President Volodymyr Zelenskyi’s visit to the US last week, and said that the US government had drawn up a special plan to prepare the Patriot missile battery for operation in the country in less than six months. . Usually, training lasts up to a year.

During the interview, the Ukrainian minister noted that Ukraine will do everything possible to win the war in 2023, adding that diplomacy always plays an important role.

• “Any war ends diplomatically,” he said. “Any war ends as a result of actions on the battlefield and at the negotiating table.”

Kuleba noted that the Ukrainian government would like to hold a peace summit by the end of February.

Conditions put forward by Ukraine for Russia’s participation in the peace summit

“The UN might be the best place to hold this summit because it’s not about doing a favor to any particular country,” he said.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyi said that Ukraine plans to initiate a summit on the implementation of the Ukrainian peace formula in 2023.

At the G20 summit in Bali in November, Zelenskyi presented a 10-point peace plan, which provides for the restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity, the withdrawal of Russian troops, the release of all prisoners, a tribunal to try those guilty of aggression, and security guarantees. for Ukraine.

Asked whether they would invite Russia to the summit, Kuleba said that first Moscow must be held accountable for war crimes in an international court.

• “This is the only way to invite them to this step,” said Kuleba.

• About Guterres’ role, Kuleb said: “He has proven himself to be an effective mediator and an effective negotiator and, most importantly, a principled and decent person. Therefore, we will be glad for his active participation.”

How Kuleba commented on Putin’s peaceful “offer”.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs once again downplayed the comments of the Russian authorities that they are ready for negotiations.

• “They regularly talk about being ready to negotiate, which is not true, because everything they do on the battlefield shows otherwise,” he said.

In comments on Russian state television on Sunday, Putin said his country was ready to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine, but suggested Ukrainians were refusing to take that step. Despite Putin’s comments, Moscow’s troops continue to attack Ukraine, a sign that peace is just around the corner.

However, in the same interview, he assured that the Russian army will destroy the Patriot air defense system, which the United States announced to supply to Ukraine.

“Of course we will destroy her, (probably) 100%!” he said, adding that the West is trying to “disunite” historical Russia, justifying the invasion of Ukraine by saying that it wants “the unification of the Russian people.”

Last Thursday, US President Joe Biden officially announced that the US would provide Ukraine with a Patriot anti-aircraft battery as part of the latest military aid package prepared in Washington for Kyiv’s armed forces.