Zelenskyy states what compromise he is ready for to end the war
The President noted that Ukraine's ceasefire memorandum serves as the basis for negotiations on humanitarian issues and a truce, but sovereignty and territorial integrity are non-negotiable.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy / © Офіс президента України
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed what compromise he is ready to make to achieve a peace agreement with Russia and end the war. He emphasizes that Kyiv does not recognize the occupied territories as Russian.
The Head of State said this in an interview with the Hungarian publication Valasz Online.
Zelenskyy noted that Ukraine's ceasefire memorandum is the foundation for negotiations with the Russian Federation. Based on this, the Ukrainian delegation has a mandate to discuss humanitarian issues — the fate of prisoners of war and abducted children — or a truce. However, the delegation has no mandate to discuss Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. "This is our constitutional issue," the President stressed.
"We have already said that we do not recognize the occupied territories as Russian. We have also repeatedly stated: if we receive appropriate security guarantees that Putin cannot continue the war, then we will have time to resolve territorial issues. Through diplomacy, not weapons," Zelenskyy explained.
He noted that Ukraine wants to end the war, but this requires the will of both sides.
"If the other side is not ready for this, they will always come up with something. They even told our delegation: we know that our memorandum is an ultimatum, and you will not accept it. Thus, the issue is not the quality of the Istanbul format, but what to do with the Russians' lies," the Head of State expressed.
He emphasizes that this is why strong mediators are needed: so that Russians cannot back out of agreements reached during negotiations.
"The United States currently does not look like a strong mediator: the Russians told them not to be at the negotiating table, after which they simply left. Why? Because of their soft policy toward Russia," the Ukrainian President said.