UWC vice president: Russia is fighting in Ukraine for the sake of war itself

Russia is not fighting in Ukraine for territory but for the sake of war itself, said Volodymyr Kogutyak, UWC Vice President for Western Europe and Association of Ukrainians in France (AUF) Vice President, in an interview with Franceinfo.

“The Russian war in Ukraine exists solely to wage war and its ultimate goal is war itself, not to gain territory,” Kogutyak said.

He said that the Ukrainian community in France is concerned about territorial concessions that are reportedly being discussed by U.S. President Donald Trump.

“There is a feeling that if we give up [the two easternmost regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in the] Donbas and the Crimean Peninsula, the war will end, but that is a dangerous illusion,” Kogutyak said.

The upcoming summit between Trump and Kremlin ruler Vladimir Putin in Alaska is just the first step in the peace process initiated by the U.S. president. However, it should not “distract us from the brutal reality of the war in Ukraine.”

“Only a few days ago, the U.S. president said he had very friendly exchanges with Vladimir Putin, that the communication was straightforward, and things were going well. Yet after dark, Russian forces continue to bomb Ukrainian territory with drones and ballistic missiles,” Kogutyak said.

The UWC Vice President strongly condemned Russia’s actions and believes that a successful outcome of these talks is impossible without imposing tough, direct sanctions on Russia.

Previously, the Ukrainian World Congress has welcomed President Trump’s efforts to establish peace in Ukraine but stresses that peace cannot come at the cost of the country’s sovereignty. The UWC calls for support of Ukraine’s right to determine its own future, defend itself, restore the international order, condemn Russian aggression, and hold Russia accountable for its crimes.