Some Ukrainian soldiers say Russians must withdraw before any peace talks

Ukrainian servicemen of the 24th Separate Assault Battalion "Aidar" smoke during a rest moment between rotations at an undisclosed location in Dnipropetrovsk Region, May 9, 2025. (AFP)
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  • Soldiers in drone unit say Russians must withdraw before peace talks
  • Insist Russia pull back to Ukraine鈥檚 1991 borders and say there was no three-day ceasefire

ZAPORIZHZHIA REGION, Ukraine: After fending off attacks during a three-day weekend ceasefire declared by Russia, some Ukrainian soldiers fighting near the front line had advice for their president, Volodymyr Zelensky: don鈥檛 talk to Moscow until Russian troops withdraw.
Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed direct talks with Ukraine just over an hour after his ceasefire ended, something Zelensky said was possible, but only after Moscow agreed to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire from Monday.
Preparing drones to observe Russian troop movements as the ceasefire was ending, the commander of a drone unit in Ukraine鈥檚 national guard, using the call sign Chepa, told Reuters any talks could only start with a full Russian withdrawal to Ukraine鈥檚 borders when the country won independence in 1991.
鈥淎s a soldier and a citizen of Ukraine I believe that before we sit down at the negotiation table we should go back to the borders of 1991,鈥� Chepa said in a bunker near the front line.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 it. Full withdrawal of all troops from the territory of Ukraine. Then when we can talk. Whatever he (Putin) is thinking of, take certain regions or divide territories, nobody has given him the right to do it.鈥�
Chepa鈥檚 views were echoed by others in the unit.
Russia occupies nearly a fifth of Ukrainian territory and has repeatedly said Kyiv must recognize the 鈥渞eality on the ground.鈥�
Zelensky has acknowledged that at least some of Ukraine鈥檚 occupied territory will have to be retaken through diplomacy. But Kyiv cannot legally recognize Russian control over any Ukrainian territory because of the constitution.
Zelensky has said any discussion about territory can only take place after a ceasefire is in place.
Putin used a late night press conference to make his proposal for talks, which he said, should be based on a draft deal negotiated in 2022, under which Ukraine would agree to permanent neutrality.
That would contradict Ukraine鈥檚 constitution, amended in 2019 to include the goal of 鈥渇ully-fledged membership鈥� of NATO.
Zelensky received a show of support from European powers on Saturday, when the leaders of Britain, France, Germany and Poland backed an unconditional ceasefire beginning on Monday.
Chepa said he also wanted negotiations but feared they would never come about.
鈥淵es, we do need negotiations. But he (Putin) is scared of talks,鈥� Chepa said, adding his brigade had seen no evidence of a ceasefire over the weekend.
鈥淲e have not seen any ceasefire, there were continuous attacks by howitzers, rocket launchers, they used it all. We have not experienced any ceasefire.鈥�
The Russian movements continued into Sunday, after the Russian-declared ceasefire ran out at midnight (2100 GMT), when the reconnaissance drones flew over a nearby village.
鈥淭here is a lot of movement there of military as well as civilian vehicles,鈥� Chepa said. 鈥淚nteresting that so close to the contact line there is a civilian car. Not damaged, mind you. They must be making good use of it.鈥�