Currently, more than 700,000 Russian soldiers are deployed along the front line, said the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Alexander Syrsky, in an interview with Sky News, LETA reports citing the BBC.
According to him, it is unacceptable for Ukraine to simply give up territory as part of a peace agreement with Russia.
He believes that a just peace can only be achieved if hostilities along the current front line cease, after which negotiations can take place.
Syrsky pointed out that the Armed Forces of Ukraine will continue to fight if diplomatic efforts fail, and warned that the fate of all of Europe is at stake.
"Our main task is to defend our land, our country, and our people," he said. "Of course, it is unacceptable for us to simply surrender and give up territory. What does it even mean to give up your land? That is why we are fighting - to not give up our territory."
"All wars eventually end, and of course, we hope that this war will end as well. And when that happens, a just peace must be achieved. In my understanding, a just peace is a peace without preconditions, without the transfer of territory," Syrsky added.
According to him, more than 710,000 Russian soldiers are deployed along the front line, and the Russian side loses about 1,000–1,100 servicemen daily, who are either killed or wounded.
"At this stage, the Russian army is trying to advance along almost the entire front line," the general noted.
