"Ukraine does not surrender": Zelensky set a condition for the Kremlin

At the next meeting in the Normandy format, Moscow should demonstrate steps towards de-escalating the conflict with Ukraine, Zelensky hopes.

Фото: Depositphotos

According to "Columnist“, newly elected President Vladimir Zelensky is ready to build relations with Russia only on the condition of the deoccupation of Donbass and Crimea, the release of Ukrainian hostages and political prisoners, and counts on Moscow’s concessions at the next negotiations. This is stated in a statement released by his press service.

On the subject: “I promise you, Ukrainians, to all of you”: Zelensky reacted to victory with the words of J. Washington. VIDEO

He calls on the Russian side not to resort to the language of threats and expects that at the next meeting in the Normandy format Russia will demonstrate its readiness to de-escalate and take concrete steps in this direction.

“A concrete confirmation of this readiness should be the mutual exchange of our citizens in the “all for all” format. With no exceptions. For our part, we are ready to discuss new conditions for the coexistence of Ukraine and Russia. With the understanding that real normalization will occur only after the complete de-occupation of both Donbass and Crimea. Ukraine is not giving up. In every sense of the word. Ukraine and Ukrainians should not be spoken in the language of threats, military and economic pressure. This is not the best path to a ceasefire and unblocking the “Minsk process.” But I hope that in Russia they are still more willing to talk than to shoot,” Zelensky said.

Note, in Ukraine and in the West, they are actively discussing the possibility of negotiations between Putin and Zelensky. For example, US special representative Kurt Walker supports this option. But Ivan Aparshin, a military adviser to the future president on security and defense issues, believes that there should not be one-on-one meetings.

On the subject: The Washington Post: What Western politicians should learn from Zelensky

In turn, Andrei Illarionov, a senior researcher at the Cato Institute (USA) and ex-adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin, advised Zelensky not to advertise his plans for the “Normandy format” too much. He also explained that the United States and Britain are unlikely to join the Normandy Four negotiations, and they are not particularly welcome there.

Recall that 24 April, Putin signed a decree on the simplified receipt of Russian passports by residents of the LC and the DPR. The president said that Moscow has no desire to create problems for Kiev, but the situation with the rights in the Donbas goes all the way. He also admitted that all residents of Ukraine will soon be able to receive Russian passports in a simplified manner.

Vladimir Zelensky, in turn, call Moscow’s decision to attempt to “seduce the citizens of Ukraine” and stressed that Kiev intends to “protect, grant asylum and Ukrainian citizenship to all who are ready to fight for freedom.”

ForumDaily wrote earlier:

• Ukraine appealed to the UN Security Council in connection with the decision of the President of Russia, and also informed the Council of Europe. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine called on Ukraine’s international partners to strengthen sanctions against the Russian Federation.
• President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko described the actions of the Kremlin as a preparation for the annexation of Donbass and also called on the international community to strengthen sanctions against the Russian Federation.
• The winner of the presidential election, Vladimir Zelensky, did not publicly respond to the Kremlin’s demarche. A statement appeared on the Zelensky Team’s Facebook page, which states that by distributing passports Putin actually recognized Russia as an occupant state.
• In the US, Putin’s actions were described as destabilizing and absurd, and also recalled support for the territorial integrity of Ukraine.
• 21 April, the second round of presidential elections in Ukraine.
• According to CEC estimates, for Zelensky cast votes more than 73% of Ukrainians, for Petro Poroshenko - almost 24,5%.

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