The President of Ukraine allows a compromise, but not ultimatums with capitulation.
Vladimir Zelensky / photo REUTERS
Ukraine is ready to engage in dialogue with Russia on security guarantees, regarding the future of the occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions and Crimea, but is not ready to capitulate.
This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelensky in an interview with ABC News.
Thus, regarding the demands that the Russian authorities put before Ukraine, in particular on the recognition of the independence of the occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, Zelensky noted that a compromise is possible on this point.
“It is important for me how people who want to be part of Ukraine will live there. I wonder what those who see themselves as citizens of the Russian Federation think. However, we must discuss this issue. As well as compromises on the issue of Crimea. We cannot recognize that Crimea is the territory of Russia.I think it will be difficult for the Russian Federation to admit that it is the territory of Ukraine.I think we are smart enough that the decisions on these two issues do not cause any revolutions within societies, so that people are satisfied with this decision: and those who live in those territories, and those who live in Ukraine,” the head of state said and added that before the occupation, these territories were part of Ukraine. “The people who elected me are not ready for capitulation, we are not ready for ultimatums. But we can discuss with Russia about the future of Crimea and Donbas.”
According to Zelensky, in order to resolve all these issues, Russian President Putin needs to start a direct dialogue.
“As for NATO, I have many times said and publicly conveyed messages to both Russia and President Putin: we are ready for any guarantees for the security of our country from the relevant states, which should guarantee. And Russia is also among these states, because Russia is our neighbor” , he noted.
According to Zelensky, in the future Ukraine should have a collective security agreement with all its neighbors and with the participation of the leading states of the world – the United States, France, Germany, as well as Turkey, with which our country borders through the Black Sea.
“These will be guarantees not only for Ukraine. These will be guarantees for Russia, which she constantly talks about. Although I don’t know who she is defending herself from. Because Ukraine has never attacked anyone, but only carried out defensive actions. Because it protects the last thing we have is family and land,” the president stressed.
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I can’t see peace in Ukraine unless Ukraine is restored to where it was before Putin’s occupation. Plus, Putin has to lose Sevastopol for his murders. That has to be a minimum price for him. He can build in Sochi.
If Ukraine has to make terrible and painful concessions in order to preserve its statehood, so be it. Ukrainians need peace, security and time to recover and rebuild.
Absolutely. This is our chance to make things right for the future and dissolve as many Moskali threats as possible since we can’t trust them. Ukraine did nothing wrong so in my opinion Ukraine should not have to suffer any concessions. We know both occupations were against the majority of people so that must be taken into account too.
There must be international punishment too.
Land is a bridge too far. Putin’s actions starting in 2014 have been illegal and nothing he gained illegally can remain in Russian possession.
He had been building up the naval base at Novorossiysk. He can move everything over to that region and be happy. Putin too Crimea illegally and therefore he may not keep it. Same with the Donbas.