Zelensky Explains Why Ukraine Cannot Trade Donbas For Security Guarantees
“Ceding Ukrainian land for peace is just abstract words. It's not only about reality, even more about philosophy. Putin was talking about Donbas, but then he decided to occupy Kyiv, our capital. His words were about Donbas, but the reality was about Kyiv. He kept saying he was defending Russian-speaking people and then tortured hundreds and thousands to death in Bucha and other places. So that wasn't about Russian-speaking people,” he said.
Read also: Zelensky discusses trilateral meeting in Abu Dhabi with StubbZelensky added that, in response to the U.S. side's proposal to exchange Donbas for security guarantees, he had asked for clarification on what exactly those guarantees would entail. In particular, he asked whether they would include NATO membership.
When the Americans proposed security guarantees similar to those provided by NATO, the President stressed that their terms needed to be clearly defined, since Ukraine was being expected to give an unequivocal answer regarding Donbas. He also asked what would happen if Ukraine received security guarantees but did not become a NATO member.
“They took our nuclear weapons. I'm not a fan of nuclear weapons. I think the world would be a better place without them. But the Russians took our nuclear weapons, didn't they? They did. Then they stopped our integration into Europe, then prevented us from being in NATO. And in the end they occupied us. This is why it's an abstract question. Nobody trusts Putin to stop if we leave Donbas. He will pause. Then he will come back in one year, two years, or five years. And who will be guilty?” he said.
As reported by Ukrinform, a trilateral meeting involving Ukraine, the United States, and Russia is taking place in the capital of the United Arab Emirates on November 10–11.
The United States is mediating working-level negotiations between Ukraine and Russia.
Ahead of the trilateral meeting in Abu Dhabi, President Zelensky held a conversation with U.S. President's special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine
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