Volodymyr_Zelenskyy
Kyiv, November 13.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that the United States has, for the first time, suggested that Ukraine cede its territory to Russia in exchange for securing NATO membership.
He also shared that during talks held this week, Russia rejected a proposal to halt attacks on energy infrastructure.
According to Zelenskyy, Russia is deploying its full strength in its military campaign against Ukraine this winter. Terming the Kremlin’s demand to redefine Europe’s security architecture as “dangerous,” he warned that it could provoke further war in the future.
Speaking to media outlets on Friday following his visits to Denmark and Ireland, Zelenskyy shared details of his meetings with European leaders. Prior to that, two days of talks mediated by the United States between Ukraine and Russia had taken place in Abu Dhabi.
The talks, held with the aim of ending the largest war in Europe since World War II, concluded without any concrete agreement. However, all parties agreed to involve European officials in future negotiations.
In remarks held under an embargo until Saturday, Zelenskyy said, “The Americans raised a question: What happens if Ukraine joins NATO? In exchange, does Ukraine step back from Donbas? Such a proposal has been made for the first time.”
According to him, Ukraine is also discussing securing firm security guarantees from NATO and the European Union (EU).
“If Western nations guarantee this, I will ask the Ukrainian people for their view—whether we should accept this or not. I do not have the right to make such a decision alone,” he stated.
U.S. representatives Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff participated in the Abu Dhabi talks. They later held separate meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy.
According to Zelenskyy, Russia rejected the proposal to halt attacks on energy infrastructure during those talks.
“The Russians are not interested in a ceasefire proposal to halt attacks on energy infrastructure,” he said.
Similarly, Zelenskyy alleged that Putin’s proposal to send a “humanitarian mission” to the city of Kostyantynivka is merely a strategic ploy. According to him, its objective is to force Ukrainian troops to withdraw from the conflict-ridden city and facilitate Russian access to other settlements in the Donetsk region.
Russia claimed control over the city earlier this year. However, Ukraine has maintained that fighting there is still ongoing.
“Putin simply wants us to abandon Kostyantynivka so that they can enter and capture the entire city,” Zelenskyy said.
Since launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Russian military has been pushing westward. However, Russia has not been able to bring the Donetsk region under its complete control.
Describing the European Union and NATO as Europe’s “only real security guarantees,” Zelenskyy criticized Moscow’s attempts to redefine Europe’s security arrangement.
He warned that such attempts are dangerous and could trigger a new war or escalate the existing conflict.
— RSS/AFP
