Ukraine has proposed an “airport truce” with Russia: what is known
12 May 10:12
Ukraine is asking European countries to help reach an agreement with Russia on a mutual ceasefire regarding attacks on airports. Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiga made this statement in an interview with Politico on the sidelines of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
“Clearly, we need Europe to play a new role in our peace efforts. Perhaps we will try to broker or achieve a so-called airport truce,” Sibiga noted.
According to him, this refers to an agreement between Kyiv and Moscow not to strike airports. Russian President Vladimir Putin may be interested in such an agreement, as major Russian airports, including Moscow’s Sheremetyevo and St. Petersburg’s Pulkovo, are becoming increasingly vulnerable to Ukrainian long-range attacks.
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“Perhaps our European allies, by creating a platform or perhaps a special group, could discuss this,” the minister said, adding that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has already raised this issue during discussions with some European leaders.
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At the same time, the foreign minister emphasized that Ukraine is not asking Europe to replace the U.S. in the negotiation process.
“This should be an additional track—not a replacement, not an alternative,” he noted, adding that Europe must speak with “one voice.”
According to the publication, Sibiga also discussed the proposal for an “airport truce” with EU foreign ministers behind closed doors.
Commenting on Putin’s suggestion that former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, a longtime associate of Russian state-owned companies, could serve as Europe’s mediator, Andriy Sibiga joked that the Kremlin might as well have nominated actors Steven Seagal or Gérard Depardieu, who are outspoken supporters of Putin’s Russia, for this role.
The minister cited the €90 billion EU loan, stabilization along the front lines, and new defense agreements with Gulf countries as signs that Kyiv has more leverage in any future negotiations with Putin.
Ukraine’s application for EU membership remains a central element of this leverage. EU accession is a key part of the “security guarantees” our country needs before it can sign any peace agreement, Sibiga noted.
In his view, it is the membership agreement that must be signed in 2027, not something like associate membership, as Germany is proposing.
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