The video was published on Facebook by the OP.
Zelensky was asked whether it is true that the United States at the negotiations demands that Ukraine give up those regions in the Donbass that have not yet been occupied by the aggressor country Russia.
Responding, the President of Ukraine called for “respect” for the delegation of US President Donald Trump.
“I don't think the US demanded anything [на переговорах]. I perceive us as strategic partners. Therefore, I would formulate this way: we heard the questions of territories regarding Russian demands from the United States. We perceive this as requirements of the Russian Federation. Therefore, I also could not demand anything from the United States, but told my colleagues from the United States that they convey our vision to the Russians,” Zelensky said.
According to him, there are “sensitive” issues, and during the negotiations the US and Ukrainian delegations “exchange thoughts.” In particular, the Ukrainian side hears “the Russians’ vision or their goals,” the president emphasized.
“Well, we’re making an effort to explain our position. And I’m glad that they hear us. And what… in the end it will work out [по территориям]we will see,” Zelensky said.
In addition, at the negotiations there were issues on which representatives of the United States and Ukraine “had the same vision,” the president added.
Context
Before the meeting in Berlin, the Ukrainian and US delegations had already held seven rounds of negotiations on a “peace plan” for resolving the Russian-Ukrainian war. In parallel, the American side is discussing the same issue with the Russian Federation.
Zelensky, in an interview with Bloomberg on December 8, said that elements of the US plan require further discussion on a number of “sensitive issues,” in particular regarding territorial issues and security guarantees for Ukraine.
On December 10, Trump held a “tense” telephone conversation with the leaders of France, Germany and Great Britain, urging them to put pressure on Zelensky to agree to the terms of the “peace plan,” the WSJ reported. On the same day, Ukraine handed over to the American side a framework document for a “peace plan” consisting of 20 main points, the president reported.
According to the NYT, Ukraine, in the US response to the “peace plan,” ruled out renouncing the Donbass territories and joining NATO.
Negotiations between the Ukrainian and US delegations in Berlin took place on December 14 and 15. Zelensky led the Ukrainian side, the American side was represented by Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and the White House head’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. After the first meeting, Witkoff reported that “significant progress had been made” in the negotiations.
On December 15, Zelensky said that the coming days “can solve a lot of things.” So far, Ukraine and the United States have different positions on territories, but the issue of concessions is “definitely not relevant,” the president noted.
