Photo: facebook.com_zelenskyy.official
Ukraine is ready for real compromises, but not at the cost of its independence and sovereignty.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said this, according to Kyodo.
“We are ready to discuss compromises with the United States. But we will not accept ultimatums from the Russians again and again. They are the aggressor. Everyone has recognized this. That hasn’t changed,” he emphasized.
Zelensky noted that many mediator countries, including those involved from the start of the full-scale war, as well as other nations, recognize Russia as the aggressor.
“That is why even talking to the aggressor about compromises is already a compromise for us. ‘Standing where we stand’ is a major compromise. They have captured almost 20% of our territory. And we are ready to discuss peace now based on the principle of ‘standing where we stand.’ This is a big compromise,” Zelensky said.
At the same time, he stressed that the aggressor country’s proposal is not a compromise but terrorism and an ultimatum.
“What is Russia offering us as a compromise? What are they willing to do? They said: ‘We are ready not to occupy your other regions.’ But that is terrorism. Even the words themselves are terrorism. ‘I’m ready not to kill you—give us everything.’ What does that mean? It’s not a compromise. It’s an ultimatum,” the president underlined.
Territorial issues
On February 17–18, the third round of trilateral talks between the delegations of Ukraine, the U.S., and Russia took place in Geneva regarding the end of the war.
Ukraine and Russia have been unable to reach a peace agreement because their positions on territory differ. The aggressor country seeks to gain the entire Donetsk region through diplomacy, where its advance is proving very difficult.
At the same time, Ukraine insists on an unconditional ceasefire, and any negotiations must start from the current front line.
