'You get nothing, not Ukraine': Ukraine's UN representative sharply rebukes Russia
Photo: Ukraine's Permanent Representative to UN Andrii Melnyk (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Ukraine’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Andrii Melnyk, issued a strong response to Russia over the Kremlin’s "wish list" for "ending the war," telling Moscow it gets "nothing," according to Melnyk’s statement during a UN Security Council meeting.
"Our territory and our sovereignty are not for sale. This is not a Christmas market. This is not the infamous Cherkizovsky bazaar," Melnyk said.
He stressed that Russia wants Ukraine to surrender and lay down its arms, something that will never happen.
Melnyk concluded his address to the Russian representative by saying:
"Russia wants Ukraine to capitulate, Russia wants us to lay down our arms, and my answer is this: you get nothing, not Ukraine."
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier stated that Ukraine, its European partners, and the United States are currently discussing three documents within the peace plan framework: a framework document, security guarantees, and a document outlining the foundations for post-war recovery.
According to Zelenskyy, four issues remain the most sensitive for Ukraine in peace talks with the United States: Donbas, financing, security guarantees, and the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.
Ukraine and the United States have not yet reached an agreement on the territorial question. Washington is pushing Ukraine to cede Donbas to Russia, while Kyiv refuses to consider such a step. Responding to journalists’ questions during a briefing, Zelenskyy rejected any possibility of transferring Ukrainian territory.
"Are we considering giving up any territory? We have no legal right - under Ukrainian law, our Constitution, and international law - and we have no moral right either," he emphasised.
