Volodymyr Zelensky said that American negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner told him that Russia really wants to end the war, but he remains more pessimistic on this issue. President he also allegedly told the Americans not to try to force him to “sell a vision of peace”, which his nation would see as a “failed story.”
What steps did Zelensky take regarding the meeting with Putin?
What does Zelensky think about the agreement regarding Donbas?
What conditions did Zelensky set for the withdrawal of troops?
What do American negotiators say about ending the war?
Zelensky mentioned Trump. “It's not fair”
The president said it was “unfair” that Trump publicly calls on Ukraine, not Russia, to make concessions. He also noted that “giving victory” to Vladimir Putin is not a way to establish long-term peace.
Axios noted that Trump has said this twice in recent days Ukraine should make concessions. – I hope this is just his tactic and not a decision – Zelensky emphasized.
Zelensky repeated that the best way to reach a breakthrough on the territory would be meeting with Putin face to face. He added that he recommended it to his team raising the issue of a leadership meeting in Geneva.
As Axios wrote, American mediators proposed that Ukrainian forces withdraw from the part of Donbas they currently control and allow the creation of a demilitarized “free economic zone”. Washington has not taken a position on which country would exercise sovereignty over it.
Zelensky on giving up the land: Ukrainians wouldn't understand it
The President of Ukraine declared that he was ready to discuss the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Donbas, but The Russians would have to withdraw their forces to the same distance. He also rejected Russian claims to sovereignty over the territory. Okay. 10 percent Donbas is under the control of Ukrainian forces. Zelensky also announced that the US and Ukraine have agreed that the peace agreement must be submitted to a referendum in Ukraine.
According to him, an agreement assuming the withdrawal of Ukrainians from Donbas, which would involve sacrificing the sovereignty and citizenship of the local inhabitants, would be rejected in a referendum. — Emotionally, people will never forgive this. Never. They won't forgive me, they won't forgive me (the US), he added. He also noted that Ukrainians “don't understand why” they should be asked to give up additional territory.
Zelensky ready to make concessions on Donbas. He set a condition
However, the president believes that Ukrainians would agree to an agreement that freezes the current front lines in Donbas. However, as Axios noted, Russia insists on taking over the entire Donbas, either by force or through negotiations.
The sides largely agreed on the U.S.-led issue ceasefire monitoring mechanism using drones – said the leader. Ukraine also wants European countries to be involved in this process, but the Russians are against it.
The delegations of Ukraine, the USA and Russia finished the first day trilateral negotiations in Geneva – said the chairman of the Ukrainian delegation, Rustem Umerov, on Tuesday. The political and military groups will resume their work on Wednesday, he announced.
