Ukrainian defense minister accuses EU officials of lying

Rustem Umerov has rejected reports that Kiev is willing to give up territory for security guarantees

Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov has accused unnamed European Union officials of spreading false information in the Western media regarding Ukraine’s stance on territorial concessions in exchange for security guarantees.

Speaking at a press conference in Oslo on Friday, Umerov strongly rejected reports claiming that Kiev was willing to give up land. He called them lies and part of Russian propaganda.

Widespread reports in Western media, including from The New York Times and Financial Times, cited unnamed Western European officials and diplomats as saying that Ukraine might change its stance given the outcome of the recent US election.

Umerov, however, emphasized that Ukraine’s position remains unchanged.

“Territorial integrity is part of our values,” Umerov stated, reaffirming that Ukraine is committed to reclaiming all the land lost to Russia since 2014. He insisted that any reports suggesting Kiev would shift its priorities are false.

“The return of the borders of 1991 remains our priority goal,” he said.

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The New York Times had reported that a high-ranking Ukrainian official indicated that security guarantees, rather than territorial issues, might become a more pressing concern for Ukraine if a ceasefire were negotiated with the involvement of US President-elect Donald Trump.

Similarly, Financial Times quoted EU diplomats as suggesting that Ukrainian authorities were open to discussions about territorial concessions as part of a broader settlement with Russia.

However, Umerov categorically denied these claims. His remarks come as Ukrainian troops continue to retreat from positions in the Donbass, and Kiev faces mounting international pressure to explore potential avenues for peace negotiations.