Zelensky Ready for Ceasefire Talks, Conditions Set for Negotiations with Russia
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed willingness on Tuesday to engage in direct negotiations with Russia, emphasizing that such discussions would only bear fruit if a ceasefire is achieved. This critical issue is set to be addressed in a meeting in London scheduled for Wednesday, where Zelensky will meet with representatives from the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany. During a press conference ahead of the London meeting, he stated that his team would discuss the possibility of an unconditional or partial ceasefire, which may include promises not to attack civilian infrastructure using missiles and drones.
Zelensky asserted that Ukraine is prepared for an unconditional ceasefire, which would entail no attacks on Ukrainian territory, thereby preventing retaliatory measures. He highlighted that should the ceasefire be partial, Ukraine is ready to respond accordingly, mirroring any actions taken by Russia. 'If we do not attack the energy sector, we do not attack the energy sector in response,' Zelensky confirmed. Likewise, he noted that if Russia refrains from deploying long-range weapons, so will Ukraine.
Furthermore, US President Donald Trump commented over the weekend that he aims to finalize an agreement during the week, despite the significant hurdles that persist between the two nations regarding a ceasefire, indicating that a peace agreement remains a distant objective.
Zelensky also addressed reports from The Wall Street Journal suggesting that the US is waiting for Ukraine's stance on recognizing Crimea as part of Russia and the potential cessation of Ukraine's aspiration to join NATO. Zelensky clarified that these signals, albeit significant, do not constitute official proposals to Ukraine and expressed uncertainty about their origins – whether they stemmed from US interests or discussions with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin.
He firmly reiterated that Ukraine does not recognize Russia's claim over Crimea, asserting, 'It is our territory, the territory of the people of Ukraine.' The president reinforced that this position is reflected in the Constitution of Ukraine and will not change.
On the subject of NATO, Zelensky emphasized that no entity other than Ukraine's allies has the authority to block Ukraine's membership in the Alliance.
Additionally, regarding the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, Zelensky pointed out that its operation hinges on Ukraine's involvement. He proposed a collaborative effort with the United States to rebuild the plant once Russian forces withdraw, suggesting that Ukraine could then profit from electricity generated there. However, he noted that there has been no formal proposition concerning the nuclear facility, while reiterating Ukraine's openness to partnerships aimed at restoring any essential infrastructure.
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