Tanjug/AP
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskiy said today that given the policy of the newly elected US President Donald Trump, he believes that the war in Ukraine will soon be over.
– No one wants peace like we do. The change in the policy of the United States of America suggests that, in my opinion, the war will be over. I don’t know how. Our task is to defend a strong position. A just peace is important to us, so that there is no feeling that we lost the best because of the injustice that was imposed on us… I think the war will end… There is no exact date, but with the policies of the team that will now lead the White House, the war will end sooner. This is their approach, a promise to their society – said Zelensky in an interview with the Suspilna public service, on the occasion of the centenary of Ukrainian radio.
He said that he had a very good conversation with Trump and that he congratulated him on his victory, as well as that the newly elected president told him that he “wants to end the war and help”.
– And he is on the side of supporting Ukraine, appreciates our strength, integrity and courage. In other words, the atmosphere in our talks has been good so far – said Zelensky and added that as the president of Ukraine, he will “seriously talk only with the president of the United States of America”.
Zelensky assessed that Russian President Vladimir Putin does not want peace in Ukraine, but he can sit down at the negotiating table with the participation of world leaders, because, as he stated, that would mean the end of his political isolation.
– I think that Putin does not want peace. But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t want to sit down at the negotiating table with some of the leaders. For him, it would be the end of political isolation. It is useful for him to sit down and talk, but not to negotiate… It is useful for him to agree on some terms of our capitulation. But who is he… No one will allow that – emphasized Zelenski.
When asked about the Ukrainian “red lines” in the negotiations, Zelensky said that he will speak about it openly when he hears the detailed outline of the plan that is currently being prepared at the meeting with Trump.
According to him, in the current situation, negotiations with Putin would mean losing Ukraine’s status at the start.
– What can be the negotiations with the killer? If we talk to Putin in the conditions we are in now, when we are not strengthened by some essential elements, it is the loss of Ukraine’s status at the start. In a weak position, there is nothing to be done in these negotiations – said the President of Ukraine.
He added that the attitude of the USA and President Trump towards Ukraine is important.
– America must maintain the position that Russia is an aggressor, that it has violated our territorial integrity, international law. This is one of the points that is important for any negotiation platform. And there should also be elements of our Victory Plan. For us, the victory is a strong Ukraine – Zelenski pointed out.
As he stated, in negotiations with Trump, current US President Joseph Biden and European leaders, Ukraine proved that the rhetoric of “sit and listen” does not work.
– This is how we should treat every country – with respect. This is about equality – one of those values that we are fighting for – he added.
Speaking about aid, Zelenski thanked the US for “bipartisan support” and recalled that both Democrats and Republicans voted for “a total of 175 or 177 billion dollars for aid of one kind or another”.
– If you asked me how much we got from that, I wouldn’t go into details, I would just say: we didn’t get half. This is an important element when we talk about how and who helps us. I believe that Europe has helped no less. But we have to be honest… The weapons have arrived, and the US has increased production, its stockpiles and the power of its military. On the example of another nation, they gained experience for themselves. And the Europeans too – said the Ukrainian leader.
He said that the most important task at the moment is the preservation of unity between Europe and the United States of America.
– Because if American policy changes, the strength of unity in Europe will also change. Will this affect the increase in benefits? No, it can only affect their reduction – concluded Zelenski.
Source: www.vesti-online.com
