Ukraine rules out giving Russia land in ceasefire deal

KYIV, May 22 Reuters-Ukraine ruled out a ceasefire or any territorial concessions to Moscow while Russia stepped up its attack in the eastern Donbas region and stopped sending gas to Finland in its latest response to Western sanctions and its deepening international isolation.  

Polish President Andrzej Duda told lawmakers in Kyiv that the international community had to demand Russia’s complete withdrawal from Ukrainian territory and that sacrificing even an inch of it would be a “huge blow”. “Only Ukraine has the right to decide about its future.” he said.   

Ukraine’s lead negotiator Mykhailo Podolyak, told Reuters Saturday, making concessions would backfire because Russia would hit back harder. “The (Russian) forces must leave the country and after that the resumption of peace process will be possible,” he said.   

Russian-backed separatists already controlled parts of Luhansk and the Donetsk province before the invasion, but Moscow wants to seize the remaining Ukrainian-held territory in the region.