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Russia Issues Ultimatum to Ukraine: Accept Moscow’s Terms or Face Total Surrender

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Amira_barkhush
Amira Barkhush
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Russia Issues Ultimatum to Ukraine: Accept Moscow’s Terms or Face Total Surrender
Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the UK Andrei Kelin during an interview with PA at the official residence of the Russian Ambassador in London, February 21, 2022. (Source: Getty Images)

Ukraine must accept Moscow’s terms to end the war or face continued Russian advances and eventual “surrender,” Russia’s ambassador to the United Kingdom, Andrei Kelin, said in a June 18 interview with CNN.

Speaking with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, Kelin stated that Russia is pressing ahead with its offensive and sees no reason to halt operations, openly dismissing US-supported ceasefire efforts.

“We are now on the offensive and Ukraine is in retreat,” Kelin said. “In May alone, we took about 600 square kilometers (230 square miles) of Ukrainian territory and we continue to gain more ground.”

Kelin issued an ultimatum to Kyiv: either accept a permanent ceasefire under Moscow’s conditions or face harsher consequences.

“For Ukraine, there is a choice: either they will take our conditions right now, a permanent ceasefire and a comprehensive settlement of the situation, or we will continue this drive and Ukraine will have to surrender under much worse conditions,” he said.

The remarks follow Russia’s ongoing dismissal of a US-brokered ceasefire plan endorsed by Ukrainian officials. Kyiv has repeatedly urged international partners to increase defensive support as civilian areas face sustained attacks.

On June 16, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said Russia will demand that Ukraine dismantle all Western-supplied weapons as a condition for ending the war.

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