No one has right to negotiate with Putin without Ukraine - Zelenskyy
Photo: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
No leader has the right to negotiate with Vladimir Putin without Kyiv, as it is Ukraine that is a victim in this war, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says.
“I insist that no leader in the world has the right to negotiate with Putin without Ukraine. We have never delegated this mandate to anyone. We are the victims. It would be unfair if everyone started saying how Ukraine should live. The French in France, Italians in Italy, and Americans in the United States know what they want for themselves. So do Ukrainians,” the President said.
Zelenskyy emphasized that during negotiations, it is not so much the person in front of you that plays an important role, but the position you are in. Currently, Ukraine is in neither a weak nor a strong position. It remains to be seen whether or not the country will become a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and when it will join the European Union (EU).
According to Zelenskyy, negotiations with Russia's Putin in the current environment could allow him to influence decisions. Therefore, he believes that before any discussions, a specific strategy needs to be developed - it could be an action plan or a peace initiative. Only then could it be presented not only to Putin but also to Russian society.
Ukraine's accession to the EU and NATO
“The Ukrainian people have decided to become a full member of the European Union. Why should Putin obstruct our choice? The days of colonialism are over. Putin does not play political games. He strikes with his missiles. Why does the whole world allow him to do this?” the President of Ukraine asked.
According to Zelenskyy, Ukrainians are also aware of all the dangers and challenges, and therefore only Ukraine's membership in NATO is a reliable guarantee of security for the future.
“Who can guarantee that Putin will not return to Ukraine? What country will come to our aid with its planes and troops? All we have today are bilateral guarantees from our partners regarding military and financial support. But if Putin comes back with his millions of people, will we be able to defend ourselves again?” he added.
Possible negotiations between Russia and Ukraine
In the West, the issue of possible negotiations between Ukraine and Russia has become relevant again after the election of Donald Trump as president of the United States of America (USA). This topic has begun to spark wider discussion among international political leaders.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk recently stated that there is a possibility that peace talks between the parties will begin this winter. Trump himself supports the idea of an early cessation of hostilities and a transition to dialogue. He believes that Ukrainian President Zelenskyy is committed to reaching a peace agreement with Russia.
