Zelensky Asserts Kyiv Cannot Surrender Territory to Russia
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made a decisive statement regarding the territorial integrity of Ukraine during an online press conference. He emphasized that Kyiv has no legal or moral authority to cede land to Russia as part of any agreement to conclude the nearly four-year invasion.
Zelensky’s Position on Territorial Integrity
Zelensky stated, “Do we envision ceding territories? We have no legal right to do so, under Ukrainian law, our constitution, and international law. And we don’t have any moral right either.” This declaration underscores Ukraine’s firm stance on retaining its territory amid ongoing conflict.
Negotiation Challenges
Amidst ongoing discussions, Zelensky noted that Russia is pressuring Ukraine to surrender land. He reiterated, “We don’t want to cede anything. We are fighting for that.” The topic of territorial concessions remains the most sensitive issue in negotiations.
- Ukrainian officials view territorial sovereignty as non-negotiable.
- Security guarantees from allied nations are a critical focus in discussions.
Future Discussions and International Meetings
Zelensky highlighted the importance of security agreements with international partners, stating, “The key is to know what our partners will be ready to do in the event of new aggression by Russia.” He added that no clear responses have been received from allies on this matter.
After recent meetings in London, Zelensky traveled to Brussels to engage with leaders from NATO and the European Commission. He mentioned his plans to visit Italy later that night for further discussions.
Officials from Ukraine and Europe will collaborate on key proposals to be presented within 20 points received from the U.S. Zelensky indicated that counter-proposals might be ready by Tuesday evening, intended for submission to Washington.
