that. the actual quote is, we will be on the administrative - that. the actual quote is, we will be on the administrative ward i that. the actual quote is, we will. be on the administrative ward with crimea, we are ready then to open a diplomatic page to discuss the issue. what you make those comments? i think what he is indicating is a willingness, if the russians are willingness, if the russians are willing at that point, to essentially capitulate, if they are willing to surrender crimea, then ukrainian military would consider, i suppose, halting their operation in order to allow the russians to withdraw. i think we should all want them to avoid further bloodshed. i don t think it is realistic that the russians will do that. but i think what he is indicating is that if there is an opportunity to retake crimea without bloodshed, then we will of course take it. it has to be a credible opportunity.
pressure on president putin to end the war here. now, questions remain over whether china is serious about engaging in meaningful efforts to reach a resolution to the conflict, or indeed over whether china has the power to put pressure on president putin. now here in kyiv, a senior adviser to president zelensky told me that any discussion about any possible role for china can only happen after dialogue between president zelensky and president xi starts. we know that both leaders haven t had any kind of dialogue, any conversations, since the beginning of the war. now, there was a second piece of news that made headlines here, and there was an interview by a senior government official to the financial times, suggesting that the ukrainians could negotiate the status of crimea with the russians, if the ukrainian army reach the border with crimea. now that was rejected by a number of officials here,
of course don t know any better than anyone of course don t know any better than anyone watching from the outside but i do anyone watching from the outside but i do speak anyone watching from the outside but i do speak a anyone watching from the outside but i do speak a lot of military retired military i do speak a lot of military retired military and active duty military and their military and active duty military and their sense is that that would make and their sense is that that would make sense, that ukraine needs to cut russia make sense, that ukraine needs to cut russia off in the south, to remove cut russia off in the south, to remove from, remove any possibility of a land remove from, remove any possibility of a land bridge to crimea, that they of a land bridge to crimea, that they will of a land bridge to crimea, that they will be relied on the bridge over the they will be relied on the bridge over the strait, over the water, the one that over the strait,
to those comments? to those comments? i ust read latel to those comments? i ust read tatety that he i to those comments? i ust read lately that he has to those comments? ijust read lately that he has clarified his i lately that he has clarified his statement, which was reported in the financial times. statement, which was reported in the financialtimes. i personally statement, which was reported in the financial times. i personally do not see any financial times. i personally do not see any deep contradiction between what he see any deep contradiction between what he said in the official position what he said in the official position of ukraine, that no negotiations will take place until after negotiations will take place until after the negotiations will take place until after the complete withdrawal of russian after the complete withdrawal of russian troops from ukraine, including russian troops from ukraine, including crimea. so he clarified that to including crim
challenging because bakhmut has become challenging because bakhmut has become a symbol, but only from a military become a symbol, but only from a military point of view, but from the paint military point of view, but from the point of military point of view, but from the point of view of the other people. it as point of view of the other people. it as a point of view of the other people. it as a symbol of resilience, a symbol it as a symbol of resilience, a symbol of it as a symbol of resilience, a symbol of determination of ukrainians, but only the armed forces ukrainians, but only the armed forces but ukrainians, but only the armed forces but overall ukrainians, to withstand forces but overall ukrainians, to withstand the russian aggression. and i withstand the russian aggression. and i am withstand the russian aggression. and i am not a military person, i cannot and i am not a military person, i cannotjudge on a military perspective, whether or not it is good p