(KYIV) – The Kremlin’s latest claims that it is ready to negotiate peace with Ukraine are nothing more than “propaganda” and a “tool of war,” according to Oleksandr Merezhko, Chair of the Ukrainian Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee.
Speaking from Kyiv amid ongoing power cuts caused by Russian missile attacks, Merezhko said he had no confidence in Russian dictator Vladimir Putin’s sincerity. “Russians are using negotiations not because they want to reach a compromise or any result,” he explained. “They are using it only as a tool of war and part of their propaganda. They have never negotiated in good faith.”
The comments came after the Kremlin again signalled its supposed readiness for talks, a move Merezhko described as a repeat of past tactics aimed at dividing international opinion rather than pursuing genuine peace. “Putin is not serious,” he said. “He wants Ukraine to surrender, not negotiate.”
Merezhko recalled his own experiences in the Trilateral Contact Group — a previous forum that included representatives from Ukraine, Russia, and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). “From those talks, I learned that Russia only talks to delay, deceive, and strengthen its position militarily,” he said.
Russia’s Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, recently restated that Moscow’s goal remains to address what it calls the “root causes” of the war — language Kyiv sees as code for Ukrainian surrender. “They continue to have their maximalist demands,” Merezhko said. “Ukraine will never accept these. We are fighting for our survival.”
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian government is facing its own domestic challenges as President Volodymyr Zelensky continues to battle corruption within state institutions. The Justice Minister, Denys Malyuska, was suspended this week following a corruption probe involving the energy sector. The Energy Minister has also resigned, though both deny wrongdoing.
Prime Minister Yuliya Severenko announced on Tuesday that the government had held an emergency session and decided to suspend Malyuska during the investigation. Seven individuals have been charged in connection with an alleged 100 million hryvnia (£2 million / USD 2.5 million) bribery scheme involving senior energy officials.
| Amount (Local Currency) | Approx. in GBP | Approx. in USD |
|---|---|---|
| 100 million hryvnias | £2 million | USD 2.5 million |
The allegations have caused public anger, particularly as Ukrainians continue to endure frequent blackouts caused by Russian air strikes on the country’s power grid.
Malyuska, who previously served as Energy Minister, said on Facebook that the suspension was “a civilised and appropriate step” and that he intended to clear his name in court. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine is leading the investigation, though it has not publicly confirmed whether Malyuska is directly implicated in the main energy sector case.
Merezhko said the investigation showed Zelensky’s continued commitment to tackling corruption. “What matters is that President Zelensky has delivered on his promise to build an independent anti-corruption system,” he said. “No one is above the law — ministers, MPs, or officials. This is what separates Ukraine from Russia.”
He added that corruption was especially unacceptable during wartime. “At a time when people are sitting in the dark, when Russia is trying to destroy our power grid, anyone profiting from this suffering is betraying the country,” he said.
Despite political and economic pressures, Merezhko insisted that Ukrainians remain united. “Putin’s strategy is to bombard us into submission,” he said. “He has failed. We will never surrender — we will survive, and we will win.”
