No statements by Russia that it is "ready not to continue occupying Ukraine" are concessions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated this during a meeting with German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil.
Points of attention
- Ukrainian President Zelenskyy doubts Russia's readiness to end the war against Ukraine despite statements made by the Russian side.
- He believes that Russia offering to withdraw from territories it does not control is not a concession.
- Zelenskyy highlights that even the dialogue about this issue is outside international law.
Zelenskyy assessed Russia's readiness to end the war against Ukraine
The president doubts Russia's readiness to end the war against Ukraine.
As for Russia's concessions, I don't know about them. I don't think the things that were said by the Russian side, that they are ready not to continue occupying Ukraine, are concessions. I don't think that concessions are the fact that they are offering us to withdraw from territories that Russia does not control and does not have the corresponding capabilities.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy
President of Ukraine
The President also noted that even dialogue about this is outside international law. According to him, the timing of the leaders' meeting depends solely on the Russian side, as well as the United States.
Because it was the United States of America that proposed a ceasefire, let me remind you, on March 7. We supported it without any conditions. I think that this came as a surprise to the "Russians". And then the "Russians" found other reasons why not to stop this war.
Zelensky recalled that Ukraine and its partners are working to end the war.
We all support silence and an end to the killings. And we said that if the "Russians" do not agree to an appropriate format for the meeting, then the United States of America must take appropriate steps. Strong steps to stop Putin.
