Zelensky does not give way to Donbas and warns of Putin's attacks
Zelensky does not give way to Donbas and warns of Putin's attacks
The Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj said on Tuesday that he would not cede a country in the east of Ukraine to Russia. He emphasized that leaving the Donetsker region would open the door for the Russian President Vladimir Putin to start "a third war" in Ukraine.
Selenskyj's warning of new aggression
This warning of Selenskyj falls together with Putins meet with US President Donald Trump on Friday in Alaska It is expected that the Russian President Ukrainian country as part of a peace pact.
confusion about the Russian conditions
Although there is ambiguity about Putin's alleged conditions for an armistice, most reports emphasize that the Russian president will request the refuse of Ukrainian troops from all over Donbas area. The Donbas also includes parts of the Donetsk region that continue to control Russia.
The consequences of a withdrawal from the Donbas
"For the Russians, the Donbas is a starting point for a future offensive. If we leave the Donbas voluntarily or under pressure, we will start a third war," said Selenskyj in a conversation with journalists. In 2014 the Crimean Illegally annexed in February 2022 large -scale invasion in Ukraine.
Ukrainian defense and security
"I won't give up my country because I have no right to it," he added. "When we give up the Donbas today, we clearly open a bridge to prepare a Russian offensive." Selenskyj and Ukrainian military state that Russia builds troops for a new offensive that could start in September.
The complex question of territorial issues
"I have not yet heard a single suggestion that would guarantee that no new war will start tomorrow and that Putin does not try to fill at least Dnipro, Saporischschja and Charkiw," said Selenskyj. "The exchange of territories is a very complex topic that cannot be separated from the security guarantees for Ukraine, our sovereign state and our people," he added, finding that the role of the European Union is crucial in the peace talks, since "nobody offers us security guarantees except Europe."
conversations between the USA, Ukraine and Europe
On Wednesday, a conversation between the USA, Ukraine and “all of Europe” will take place, according to the Ukrainian President. Trump has indicated that Selenskyj will not take part in the meeting on Friday. However, the US President plans to contact Kiev immediately after meeting with other European leaders to inform them.
Trump about possible negotiations
"I won't do a deal," said Trump. "It is not up to me to make a deal. I think a deal should be hit for both sides."
diplomatic conversations in the background
Selenskyj announced further details on the diplomatic conversations that took place behind the scenes on Tuesday, as well as his assessments about the result of the meeting of the US specialist Steve Witkoff with Putin. "Witkoff said that territorial concessions should be necessary from both sides. It sounded. And that Putin probably wants us to leave the Donbas. So it didn't sound as if America wanted us to go," said Selenskyj. "I don't think Putin's proposal is Trump's proposal. I think Trump represents the United States of America. He acts as a mediator, he is in the middle - not on the Russian side."
Kevin Liptak from CNN contributed to this report.
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