Luxembourg national Claude Radoux, who has served as the Ukrainian consul for nearly 30 years, recently visited Kyiv. Reflecting on his trip, he shared insights into the resilience and determination of the Ukrainian people in their ongoing conflict with Russia.
“The Ukrainians have endured much in their past. They have reached a point where they are fed up and resolute in their determination to persevere. This level of resistance likely surprised the Russians,” Radoux commented on the energy and steadfastness the Ukrainians are demonstrating in the war.
Radoux admitted he embarked on his trip with “some concern and scepticism” but returned with a renewed sense of optimism. “Despite all the difficulties and the worries that people naturally have, I have come back with a greater sense of certainty and optimism,” he explained.
During his visit, Radoux participated in the second summit of towns and regions, where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola, among others, delivered speeches. He was also received by Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and Vice President of the Parliament Ruslan Stefanchuk.
“I think they’re optimistic that they’ll pull through,” Radoux continued. “They are aware that the Russians are exploiting the current weakness due to a lack of ammunition, which is indeed a challenging situation. However, they have confidence in bridging this gap with incoming weapons deliveries. They are also actively recruiting, training, and equipping additional brigades.”
The situation is expected to significantly impact the upcoming Peace Conference scheduled to take place in Switzerland in mid-June. The primary political objective is to restore the integrity of Ukrainian territory to its pre-2014 borders. However, the consul acknowledges the complexity of this goal and underscores that pragmatism will likely prevail in the negotiations.
Discussions at the conference are anticipated to revolve around topics such as the safety of nuclear power plants, the reliability of agricultural product supplies from Ukraine, and matters concerning prisoner exchanges and the repatriation of deported children.
Starting peace negotiations requires an interlocutor on the other side of the table, “which currently does not exist,” noted Radoux.
In the view of Russian President Vladimir Putin, there is no reason for Ukraine to exist, according to Radoux, who added that the Ukrainians are “not yet in a place to entertain this viewpoint.”
