Ukraine believes that Kiev's precondition for ending the conflict is the complete withdrawal of Russian troops. (Source: Reuters)

On October 25, the Chief of the General Staff of the Ukrainian Army declared that a complete withdrawal of Russian troops, not just peace negotiations, is necessary to end the conflict that has lasted more than 2 and a half years.

Chief of the General Staff Andriy Yermak made the statement at an international meeting dedicated to implementing a peace plan.

This is one of the meetings held as a follow-up to the world “Peace Summit” last June hosted by Switzerland.

President Zelensky's website posted Mr. Yermak's share: "Do not expect this conflict to end when the sides start negotiating with each other... This military conflict will end when the last soldier of the occupying army returns home."

In a related development, on the same day, India and Germany expressed deep concern over the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and its severe humanitarian impact.

In a joint statement released by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs after the 7th India-Germany Intergovernmental Consultations in New Delhi, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his German counterpart Olaf Scholz stressed that “the use or threat of use” of nuclear weapons in the conflict in Ukraine is “unacceptable”.

The joint statement said: “The leaders stressed the urgent need for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace, consistent with international law and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.”