EU state’s leader says it is the ‘worist moment’ for Kiev to initiate peace talks
Lithuania's president has stated that the present time is the "worst moment" for Kiev to initiate peace talks with Moscow, citing that Vladimir Putin feels he is "stronger." Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Lithuania's President Gitanas Nauseda has indicated that the current state of conflict between Russia and Ukraine represents the "worst" possible moment for negotiations, implying that Russian President Vladimir Putin perceives Russia as "the stronger party."
Since the beginning of the year, Russian forces have made notable progress in the Donbass region and other frontline areas, seizing numerous settlements. They captured the strategic town of Avdeevka in February and more recently took the key stronghold of Ugledar. Additionally, territory controlled by Ukraine in Russia's Kursk Region has diminished in recent weeks following an incursion by Ukrainian troops in early August.
Nauseda expressed his concerns while attending an EU leaders' summit in Brussels. "This is the worst moment to start negotiations because he feels Russia is the stronger side,” he remarked to reporters.
Later in the day, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky was scheduled to address the summit in Brussels to advocate for his so-called ‘victory plan.’
Zelensky elaborated on his proposals during a presentation to the Ukrainian parliament on Wednesday. His suggestions include an immediate invitation for Ukraine to join NATO, lifting restrictions on the use of Western-supplied long-range weapons to target internationally-recognized Russian territory, and implementing "a comprehensive non-nuclear strategic deterrence package" in Ukraine. “This plan can be implemented. It depends on the partners. I emphasize: on partners. It doesn’t exactly depend on Russia,” he stated.
In response, Nauseda commented on Zelensky’s plan, stating, “There is nothing new in there.” He pointed out that the proposals reflected what had been attempted, yet failed, at the Vilnius summit in 2023 regarding NATO membership for Ukraine. Similar outcomes were noted during discussions in Washington the previous July.
He added, “As long as we do not do it, we are far from victory. The very causal links here are self-evident.” Nauseda has been a persistent advocate for Ukraine throughout the ongoing conflict.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova criticized Zelensky’s proposals, labeling them a “set of incoherent slogans” and asserting that they lacked substance as a "victory plan," describing them instead as a “plan for the misfortune of Ukraine.”
In June, President Putin stated that Moscow was prepared to cease hostilities and initiate talks with Ukraine, provided that Ukraine officially rescinded its NATO aspirations and withdrew from the territories of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, as well as the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions, which were incorporated into Russia following referendums in the fall of 2022.
Zelensky dismissed this offer, calling it an “ultimatum.” Following Ukraine's incursion into Russia’s Kursk Region, the Kremlin indicated that those terms were no longer available for discussion.
Debra A Smith contributed to this report for TROIB News
Since the beginning of the year, Russian forces have made notable progress in the Donbass region and other frontline areas, seizing numerous settlements. They captured the strategic town of Avdeevka in February and more recently took the key stronghold of Ugledar. Additionally, territory controlled by Ukraine in Russia's Kursk Region has diminished in recent weeks following an incursion by Ukrainian troops in early August.
Nauseda expressed his concerns while attending an EU leaders' summit in Brussels. "This is the worst moment to start negotiations because he feels Russia is the stronger side,” he remarked to reporters.
Later in the day, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky was scheduled to address the summit in Brussels to advocate for his so-called ‘victory plan.’
Zelensky elaborated on his proposals during a presentation to the Ukrainian parliament on Wednesday. His suggestions include an immediate invitation for Ukraine to join NATO, lifting restrictions on the use of Western-supplied long-range weapons to target internationally-recognized Russian territory, and implementing "a comprehensive non-nuclear strategic deterrence package" in Ukraine. “This plan can be implemented. It depends on the partners. I emphasize: on partners. It doesn’t exactly depend on Russia,” he stated.
In response, Nauseda commented on Zelensky’s plan, stating, “There is nothing new in there.” He pointed out that the proposals reflected what had been attempted, yet failed, at the Vilnius summit in 2023 regarding NATO membership for Ukraine. Similar outcomes were noted during discussions in Washington the previous July.
He added, “As long as we do not do it, we are far from victory. The very causal links here are self-evident.” Nauseda has been a persistent advocate for Ukraine throughout the ongoing conflict.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova criticized Zelensky’s proposals, labeling them a “set of incoherent slogans” and asserting that they lacked substance as a "victory plan," describing them instead as a “plan for the misfortune of Ukraine.”
In June, President Putin stated that Moscow was prepared to cease hostilities and initiate talks with Ukraine, provided that Ukraine officially rescinded its NATO aspirations and withdrew from the territories of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, as well as the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions, which were incorporated into Russia following referendums in the fall of 2022.
Zelensky dismissed this offer, calling it an “ultimatum.” Following Ukraine's incursion into Russia’s Kursk Region, the Kremlin indicated that those terms were no longer available for discussion.
Debra A Smith contributed to this report for TROIB News
