Maria Mezentseva, deputy of the People's Servant Party, Deputy Chairman of the European Union Integration Committee of the Ukrainian Parliament and Head of the Ukrainian Delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), made a statement to Caner Çiftçi from Cumhuriyet regarding the military and diplomatic course of the war.
Touching on the land issue, one of the most important issues in the peace talks, Mezentseva said that it is not constitutionally possible for Kiev to officially give up its internationally recognized borders.
At a time when Russia was continuing its demands on the whole of Donetsk and there were discussions in the West that Ukraine might have to accept the actual loss of some regions in exchange for peace, Mezentseva closed the door to this option.
Stating that the Ukrainian Constitution does not give any head of state the authority to make such a decision on his own, Mezentseva emphasized that changing internationally recognized borders requires a constitutional majority in the parliament.
Arguing that such a majority cannot be achieved, the Ukrainian MP said, "Frankly, we do not understand why this option is still on the agenda."
Touching on the developments on the front, Mezentseva claimed that Ukrainian forces were making progress around Kramatorsk and Sloviansk. Arguing that Russia's expectations that it could achieve a rapid and decisive military result in the region have not been realized, Mezentseva said that Kiev is trying to ensure the security of strategic cities such as Donbas and Kharkiv regions and Dnipro.
"Therefore, giving land in exchange for peace is out of the question," said Mezentseva, adding that such a formula is "absolutely unacceptable" for Ukraine.
Referring to Washington's role in the Ukraine war, Mezentseva said that she did not agree with the view that Kiev was "overly dependent" on the United States.
Stating that the partnership with the USA continues, the Ukrainian MP stated that international balances may change with political developments and elections.
Stating that Ukraine's goal is "a long-term and fair peace based on international law", Mezentseva stated that Kiev's door is open to negotiations.
Emphasizing that the war was not started by Ukraine, Mezentseva said that, nevertheless, they expect all partners, including the USA, to support efforts to end the war.
Speaking about Ukraine's recent increase in its attacks on oil refineries, energy facilities and military targets deep within Russian territory, Mezentseva evaluated this strategy as a part of Ukraine's defense.
Describing the targeting of energy and military facilities in Russia as a "logical step", Mezentseva said that oil revenues are an important source of Moscow's financing of the war.
Stating that the attacks caused problems in fuel and oil products in Russia, the Ukrainian MP said, "This took the war back to where it started."
Mezentseva argued that Russia poses a security threat not only for Ukraine but also for NATO countries.
Claiming that there are hybrid activities originating from Russia in Eastern Europe and the Baltic countries, Mezentseva said that European countries should increase their military and social preparations against possible threats.
Stating that discussions regarding the implementation of Articles 4 and 5 of the alliance have come to the fore when Russian-linked unmanned aerial vehicles reach the territory or borders of NATO countries, Mezentseva argued that European countries should act jointly.
Referring to the debates in Ukrainian domestic politics, Mezentseva said that despite the war conditions, political disagreements and protests in the country are a part of the democratic system.
Evaluating the discussions and protests following the dismissal of former Minister of Defense Mykhailo Fedorov, Mezentseva stated that people in Ukraine can criticize the government and react publicly against practices they deem wrong.
Pointing to Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which guarantees freedom of peaceful assembly and association, Mezentseva argued that this constitutes a significant difference from the political environment in Russia.
Reminding that Fedorov was a member of President Volodymyr Zelenski's team for many years, Mezentseva said that the former minister could contribute to the Ukrainian Armed Forces in his new duties.
Pointing out that political unity in Ukraine cannot be evaluated only through the government, Mezentseva stated that the tendencies within the society, parliament and government should be considered separately.
Arguing that the war naturally increased political debates, but the basic sense of unity in the country was preserved, Mezentseva said, "I think unity still exists. We should not lose it."
Referring to the election debates that are increasingly on the agenda in Ukraine, Mezentseva argued that it is not possible to go to the polls under the current war conditions.
Reminding that the war started in 2014, the Ukrainian MP said that the voting rights of everyone in the country cannot be guaranteed while full-scale conflicts continue.
Drawing attention to the question of how soldiers serving at the front will vote or become candidates, Mezentseva stated that millions of Ukrainians are outside the country due to the war, and some citizens live in regions controlled by Russia.
Arguing that safe election conditions cannot be guaranteed even in the event of a ceasefire, Mezentseva suggested that Russia may try to provoke the election process.
Mezentseva emphasized that one of the biggest problems regarding holding elections under war conditions is the political rights of soldiers at the front.
“How will my wife, my brothers and the thousands of men and women serving in the Ukrainian Armed Forces vote?” Mezentseva asked, adding that it was unclear how this would be achieved if the soldiers wanted to run for office in the parliamentary and local elections.
He stated that problems such as the right to vote and be elected, the creation of a safe election environment, the participation of millions of Ukrainians living abroad in the process and the situation of those living in Russian-controlled regions should be solved.
Mezentseva said that the timing of post-war elections should be determined in line with Ukrainian laws and the Constitution, not external pressures.
At the NATO Summit in Ankara, allies pledged to provide 70 billion euros worth of military equipment, aid and training to Ukraine for 2026. NATO also announced its intention to maintain at least the same level of support into 2027.
Addressing the debates about Ukraine's dependence on Western support from a different perspective, Mezentseva argued that the relationship between NATO and Kiev is not one-sided.
Stating that Ukraine's experience on the battlefield, manpower, technology and innovations in the field of defense are also important for NATO, Mezentseva said: "Can NATO resist Russia's possible direct or hybrid attacks without Ukraine's experience, manpower and technologies?" made his assessment.
Arguing that cooperation between Ukraine and Western allies should be continued until Russia ceases to pose a security threat, Mezentseva said that the struggle does not only concern the future of Ukraine.
Stating that some peoples within the Russian Federation have historically struggled for independence against the Moscow administration, Mezentseva argued that the future of Russia's current political and geographical structure could be discussed in the future.
