war against Ukraine
Zelenskyj: Negotiating positions sound more realistic
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, in Kyiv. Photo: Uncredited/Press Office of the President of Ukraine via AP/dpa
© dpa-infocom GmbH
In the course of the negotiations with Russia, the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj is cautiously optimistic. For employees of the Putin system, he has an unmistakable message.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed cautious optimism about the talks with Russia on an end to the war. The negotiating positions sounded more realistic, he said in a video message.
But it will still take a while before Ukraine can be satisfied. “We all want peace and victory as soon as possible,” said the President. “But it takes effort and patience. We still have to fight and work.” Every war ends with an agreement. “The meetings will continue.”
Both sides negotiated in a video conference on Monday and Tuesday. Presidential adviser Mykhailo Podoliak said on Tuesday evening that talks would continue on Wednesday.
Zelenskyj’s message: “Quit”
Ukraine demands an end to the war and a withdrawal of Russian troops. Among other things, Moscow is demanding that Kyiv recognize the annexed Black Sea peninsula of Crimea as Russian and the Ukrainian separatist areas as independent states.
The war of aggression against Ukraine will end in shame, poverty and years of isolation for Russia, Zelenskyy said in the video message. Anyone who works for the Russian state or its “propaganda system” will lose everything. “Quit,” advised the president. “A few months without work will definitely be better for you than a whole life with international persecution.”