Ukraine is not afraid to talk with Russia about a neutral status and security guarantees, Volodymyr Zelenskyy's office said. The Ukrainian president noted that he did not see the readiness of European countries "to fight with us and see Ukraine in NATO", calling for support for Kiev. Zelensky also turned to the Bucharest Nine countries with a request for defense assistance. Ukraine is ready for negotiations with Russia on a neutral status. It is reported by RBC with reference to the statement of the adviser to the head of the office of the President of Ukraine Mikhail Podolyak. According to the politician, Kiev must first obtain security guarantees.
“Ukraine has always left and leaves space for negotiations. Including now, when Russia went on a full-scale invasion. This war must be stopped. These hostilities must be stopped,” Podolyak said. According to him, the readiness of the Ukrainian authorities for dialogue is a desire for peace.
“If negotiations are possible, they must be held. If they say in Moscow that they want to negotiate, including on the neutral status [of Ukraine], we are not afraid of that. We can also discuss these issues,” the politician said.
The adviser recalled that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky did not see the readiness of European countries "to fight with us and see Ukraine in NATO."
During a video message on the night of February 24-25, Zelensky stated that he was ready to discuss the neutral status of Ukraine with Russia.
“Today we heard from Moscow that they still want to discuss the neutral status of Ukraine. I told all the partners of our country that the fate of our country is now being decided. I ask them - are you with us? They answer that they are with us, but they don’t want to take us into the [NATO] alliance,” the president said.
“I declare that we are not afraid of Russia, we are not afraid to talk with Russia, to talk about everything: security guarantees for our country and a neutral status (we are not in NATO now), but what kind of guarantees will we have?” Zelensky said.
He stressed that Kiev needs guarantees and accurate information about the countries that will be ready to provide them. “It is necessary to talk about the end of this invasion,” the Ukrainian leader said. He noted that he had discussed the situation with 27 leaders of the EU states.
Zelensky again called on Moscow to start negotiations on a cessation of hostilities.
“Sooner or later, Russia will still have to negotiate with us, talk about how to end hostilities and stop this invasion,” the President of Ukraine said. According to him, the sooner this conversation begins, the Russia's own losses will be smaller.
Neutral status implies such a position of the state in which it refrains from actions that could involve it in an international conflict. This applies both to participation in wars between other countries and to joining military-political blocs.
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Help from the Bucharest Nine
The Ukrainian leader turned to the countries of the Bucharest Nine with a request for defense assistance. He also said that he had a telephone conversation with Polish President Andrzej Duda.“We are defending our freedom and land. But we need effective international assistance. Discussed this with Andrzej Duda. I turned to the Bucharest Nine about defense assistance, sanctions, pressure [on Russia],” he wrote on Twitter.
“We need an anti-war coalition,” the Ukrainian president emphasized.
The Bucharest Nine includes the Czech Republic, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania and Slovakia. The creation of the association was initiated by Polish President Andrzej Duda and Romanian President Klaus Iohannis after the annexation of Crimea to Russia in 2014.
Zelenskiy also held several international calls. In particular, he phoned British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and urged him to tighten sanctions.
“Today, Ukraine needs the support of partners more than ever,” Zelensky stressed, demanding an effective response from Russia.
He also had a telephone conversation with Finnish President Sauli Niinistö. The Ukrainian leader thanked his colleague for the allocated funds in the amount of $50 million.
Zelensky has previously accused world powers of watching the situation from afar, and Ukraine is forced to defend itself alone.
“We defend our state alone. The most powerful forces in the world are watching from afar. Did yesterday's sanctions convince Russia? We hear in our skies and we hear on our earth that this is not enough,” he said.
Zelensky expressed the opinion that sooner or later a dialogue will be started with Russia on the cessation of hostilities.
bbabo.Net