Zelenskyy speaks on why Ukraine won't surrender Donbas to Russia
Photo: Volodymyr Zelenskyy (facebook.com/zelenskyy.official)
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says that Ukraine cannot regain its territories now, but Russia cannot win either, Sky News reports.
Read also: Trump-Zelenskyy talk details: US President wants to end Ukraine war in month
During the conversation, the host notes that the White House often makes statements that Ukraine will not be able to win the war and that the country will have to cede territory for the sake of peace.
When asked if Ukraine can win, Zelenskyy explains that at this stage, it would mean the loss of a large number of people.
"For today, it is very difficult, and there will be too many losses, people's lives. It is really difficult. But what is good is that Russia also can't do it on the battlefield either, so that's why they are not winning, and we are not losing," the President says.
The host also asks why not just give up Sloviansk and Kramatorsk if the priority is to stop the war, and that is the condition.
Zelenskyy, responding to the question, says that this is Ukraine's territory, and it is strange to talk about Ukraine leaving its own land.
Also, withdrawing from these cities would mean that Ukraine would leave 200,000 people under occupation, who could be subjected to what has already happened in other occupied Ukrainian territories.
"If we withdraw from this territory, like you said, for example, Kramatorsk, Sloviansk, at the very moment, 200,000 people who are there now will be occupied by Russians. Who said to Russia that these people are ready to be Russian people? And if they don't, they will kill them or push to the front or push to the prison. They did the same steps in Luhansk, in Donetsk, in Crimea," he explains.
Summing up, the President adds that the issue of surrendering Donbas is not only a red line, but also a line of defense.
War will not end with surrender of Donbas
A few days ago, Zelenskyy called the US idea of transferring Donbas to Russia short-sighted. He is skeptical that Moscow's demands are limited to this alone.
"Honestly, I do not believe that this is all that Russia demands. Our withdrawal from Donbas, and then the war will end. Russia is Russia, and you cannot trust them," the President said.
A week ago, Zelenskyy also said that following the third round of negotiations in Geneva, Ukraine and Russia had made progress on military issues, but not on territorial issues.
In particular, he said that Russia was demanding the surrender of Donbas, Ukraine was opposed, and the US was proposing a free economic zone.
