Zelenskyy Confirms Sole Authority in Peace Talks

(MENAFN) Ukrainian Leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized on Tuesday that it is solely his duty to engage in discussions with Russia over territorial disputes, underscoring that Ukraine’s independence and national integrity are not subjects for external mediation.

“It is my job to hold talks on territories – and (Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s, who seized them (in the ongoing war). I will not discuss my position on this with anyone else,” Zelenskyy asserted during an interview with a Hungarian publication.

This statement was made in response to a query regarding Ukraine’s readiness to make concessions in the ongoing peace dialogue with Russia.

Zelenskyy clarified that a document handed to Moscow at the recent negotiations in Istanbul no longer includes references to Ukraine’s borders as they stood in 1991.

“Our memorandum is the basis for negotiations. Based on this, our delegation has a mandate to discuss humanitarian issues – the issue of prisoners of war and abducted children – or a ceasefire,” he noted.

He further explained that the Ukrainian negotiating team is not authorized to deliberate on matters concerning national independence or the inviolability of its territory, framing such topics as purely domestic and constitutional in nature.

Zelenskyy reaffirmed Ukraine’s refusal to acknowledge any territories that Moscow claims to have incorporated into Russia.

He stated that diplomatic channels might be used to address territorial concerns, but only if Ukraine is provided with trustworthy security assurances.

“And this is already a major compromise, because we have a long road ahead of us. We want to end the war, but this requires the will of both parties. If the other party is not ready for this, it will always come up with something,” he concluded, highlighting the challenges that lie ahead in pursuing peace.

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