Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy has pushed for a ceasefire before a peace deal can be reached with Russia, ahead of tomorrow’s meeting with US President Donald Trump in Washington, DC.
Speaking a press conference alongside European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels, Zelenskyy said, “First we have to stop the killings.”
He asserted that Russian President, Vladimir Putin has many demands, but “we do not know all of them, and if there are really as many as we heard, then it will take time to go through them all.”
“It’s impossible to do this under the pressure of weapons. So it’s necessary to cease fire and work quickly on a final deal. We’ll talk about it in Washington.
“Putin does not want to stop the killing, but he must do it,” the Ukrainian president said
Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Also, the Ukrainian President stated that any negotiations with Russia should start at the current battlefield “front line,” after Putin signalled that he is seeking “land swaps” with Ukraine as part of a peace deal.
“We need real negotiations, which means they can start where the front line is now. The contact line is the best line for talking…Russia is still unsuccessful in Donetsk region.
“Putin has been unable to take it for 12 years, and the Constitution of Ukraine makes it impossible to give up territory or trade land.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Additionally, Zelenskyy said that since the territorial issue is so important, it should be discussed only by the leaders of Ukraine and Russia and the trilateral Ukraine-United States-Russia. “So far, Russia gives no sign that trilateral will happen, and if Russia refuses, then new sanctions must follow,” he stressed.
Moreover, Zelenskyy pushed for greater clarity on what security guarantees for Ukraine would look like in the event of a peace deal.
He noted that what US President, Donald Trump said about security guarantees is much more important to him than Putin’s opinion, saying, “Putin will not give us any security guarantees.”
The Ukrainian President went onto list several unknowns about the potential arrangement, including “whether there are ‘troops on the ground,’ whether there is protection like in some other countries, in the sky, you know what I mean.” He added, “We really want to get an answer to these questions in order to understand what security guarantees are.”
Call For Strong Security Guarantees
On her part, European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen said at the press conference, alongside Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Ukraine must become a “steel porcupine, undigestible for potential invaders.”
She called for strong security guarantees to protect both Ukraine and Europe’s vital security interests, saying, “Ukraine must be able to uphold its sovereignty and its territorial integrity.”
“There can be no limitations on Ukrainian armed forces, be it cooperation with or other third countries, or assistance from other third countries. No limitations for the Ukrainian Armed Forces.”
Ursula von der Leyen
Also, von der Leyen said that she welcomed US President Donald Trump’s “willingness to contribute to Article Five,” adding that the “coalition of the willing” — Ukraine’s main European allies — is “ready to do its share.”
She added that with regards to any territorial questions in Ukraine, “our position is clear.” “International borders cannot be changed by force,” von der Leyen said.
She asserted that these are decisions to be made by Ukraine and Ukraine alone, and these decisions cannot be taken without Ukraine at the table.
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