via Associated Press
UKRAINE – Friction on the line between Emmanuel Macron and Volodymyr Zelensky? According to the Ukrainian president, his French counterpart is trying “in vain” to dialogue with Vladimir Poutine. For him, it is “not correct” that the French president is ready, according to him, to “make diplomatic concessions” to the Russia.
“We must not look for a way out for Russia, and Macron is doing it in vain”, regretted Volodymyr Zelensky Thursday evening on the Italian television channel RAI 1, according to images broadcast this Friday, May 13 on his channel. Telegram.
“I know he wanted to get results in the mediation between Russia and Ukraine, but he didn’t get any,” he said. “Until Russia herself wants and understands that she needs (the end of the war, editor’s note), it will not look for any way out”, added the Ukrainian president, who refuses to concede an inch of territory.
Zelensky no longer wants to negotiate with Russia
Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that, to end the war waged in Ukraine by the Russian army, peace will have to be built without “humiliating” Russia. For Volodymyr Zelensky however, “Macron does not need to make diplomatic concessions (to Russia) now”.
He judged this approach “not very correct” to, in his eyes, allow Vladimir Putin to “save face”, at a time when the Russians are still trying to take control of southern and eastern Ukraine. The Ukrainian president also felt that “the time to sit around a table with Russia is over”. “It’s no longer possible,” he said.
“The President of the Republic has never discussed anything with Vladimir Putin without the agreement of President Zelensky. He has always said that it was up to the Ukrainians to decide the terms of their negotiations with the Russians”, defended the Elysée on his side on Friday.
After several sessions of talks between kyiv and Moscow in March, the discussions are at a standstill, the positions of the two parties being too far apart. While the Ukrainian president envisaged discussions on the status of the Donbass territories at the start of the conflict, the Ukrainian military successes have upset the balance of power and kyiv no longer plans to cede territory.
Volodymyr Zelensky, however, once again repeated his desire to meet Vladimir Putin, “but only with him, without any mediator”. “And with a dialogue approach, not (by issuing) ultimatums,” he clarified.
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