Ukrainian President Zelensky reiterates in an interview with ABC News that he wants a dialogue between Ukraine and Russia, that he wants security guarantees, but is not prepared to capitulate. With his remarks, he addresses the demands that Russia once again put on the table yesterday.
In response to a question about Crimea (annexed by Russia in 2014) and the Russian-occupied regions of Donetsk and Lugansk, Zelensky said, “We can talk and find a compromise on how these regions will move forward.” In addition, it is important to him how the inhabitants who want to belong to Ukraine will live there and what security guarantees they receive.
Yesterday Russia stated that the conflict will end immediately if Ukraine lays down its arms and states in its constitution that it will never join NATO. In addition, it must recognize Crimea as part of Russia and recognize Donetsk and Lugansk as independent states.
Zelensky told ABC News that he views the Kremlin’s terms as a new ultimatum and therefore rejects it. He says that President Putin is in a “bubble without oxygen” in terms of information and that it is not known how reliable the information he receives is. Zelensky calls on Putin to end the war.
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In the interview, he again urges the US and other countries to establish a no-fly zone in Ukrainian airspace. “We cannot allow the Russians to be active there. We have no control over our airspace.” But NATO does not want Ukraine to join, says the president. “The alliance is afraid of controversial things and confrontation with Russia.”
According to Zelensky, Western aid to Ukraine is also in the interest of Europe and the US. “We come first, you will come second, for the more the beast eats, the more he wants.” Zelensky was referring, among other things, to NATO member states bordering Russia.
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