We are ready for real compromises. But not compromises at the cost of our independence and sovereignty. We are ready to speak about compromises with the United States. But not to get ultimatums from the Russians again and again. They are the aggressor. Everybody has recognized it. It hasn’t changed. Many countries that have been mediators or tried to be mediators from the very beginning of this war, especially in the Middle East and Asia, as well as other countries, they all recognize that Russia is the aggressor.
That's why it is already our compromise that we are speaking with the aggressor about compromises. “Stay where we stay” – this is a big compromise. They took almost 20% of our territory. And we are ready to speak about peace at this moment, on the basis of “Stay where we stay”. This is a big compromise.
What does Russia offer us as a compromise? What are they ready to do? They said, “We are ready not to occupy your other regions”. But it is terrorism. Even that language, it is terrorism. “I’m ready not to kill you – give us everything”. What does it mean? It's not a compromise. This is an ultimatum. That's why I said: We are ready for compromises that respect Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity, our army, our people, and our children. But we are not ready for ultimatums.
From my conversation with Kyodo News (3/3)