Photo: EPA
They could be killed, sent to the front, or imprisoned.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy once again confirmed that he is ready for direct talks with dictator Vladimir Putin, but emphasized that there would be a “red line” during any potential meeting — the refusal to cede territory. In an interview with Sky News, he added that he is willing to do anything for peace except withdrawing Ukrainian Armed Forces from Donetsk Oblast, saying it “sounds incredibly strange that we should leave our own land.”
The president noted that to retake all occupied territories militarily, Ukraine would face heavy human losses, something Kyiv has repeatedly stated is unfeasible. For the same reason, Russia cannot occupy more territory. “That’s why they are not winning, and we are not losing,” he said.
He continued that if the Defense Forces were to leave Sloviansk and Kramatorsk in Donetsk Oblast, it would result in the occupation of an area currently home to 200,000 people. “They could be killed, sent to the front, or imprisoned,” Zelenskyy said.
He also stated that there is a window of opportunity to sign a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia — between now and the U.S. midterm elections on November 3 — and expressed hope that the chance to achieve peace still exists.
