Any “compromise” in negotiations with Russia to end the conflict will be subject to a referendum in Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an interview with a Ukrainian regional public media outlet on Monday.
“I explained it to all the negotiating groups: when they talk about all these changes that would appear in a possible deal, which can be historic […]we will get a referendumthe President told Suspiln, a Ukrainian information portal.
Earlier, in an interview broadcast by US news channel CNN on Sunday, the President reiterated that he was “ready to negotiate” with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and stressed that “without negotiations we will not be able to end this war”. .
“I am ready to negotiate with him (Vladimir Putin). I have been ready for the past two years and I believe that without negotiations we cannot end this war.” he said about the Fareed Zakaria GPS program during the fourth week of fighting on Ukrainian territory.
Zelenskyy defended the multiple rounds of negotiations that have already taken place between Kyiv and Moscow since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began on February 24. They have “a lot of value,” he said.
“If there’s even a 1 percent chance of stopping this war, we should take it,” he said.
Faced with the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian army to “annihilate” the local population “We must use all formats, all negotiation opportunities, all opportunities to talk to (Vladimir) Putin,” said the President of Ukraine.
“If these attempts fail, it would mean that it is a third world war”said Zelensky, whose government put the casualties of Russian troops at more than 14,000.
Turkey, which is stepping up its mediation efforts between the two warring factions, said on Sunday that Russia and Ukraine had made progress in their negotiations.
Selenskyj had already promoted negotiations in a video posted on social media last Saturday.
“It’s time to meet. It’s time to talk. It is time to restore territorial integrity and justice to Ukraine, he said in the embassy.
Last month, in a move some analysts say accelerated the conflict, Putin recognized two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine, Donetsk and Lugansk, as independent entities. and debate has erupted as to whether Zelenskyy could cede those territories to end the war.
“I am ready to negotiate with him (Vladimir Putin). I have been ready for the past two years and I believe that without negotiations we cannot end this war.: President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Photo: AFP Presidency of UkraineHowever, on the eve, the President of Ukraine was defiant: “One cannot simply demand that Ukraine recognize some territories as independent republics”he told CNN.
“We have to develop a model where Ukraine does not lose its sovereignty, its territorial integrity,” he said.
Jerusalem “a good place to find peace”
That’s exactly what Zelenskyy said Jerusalem would be “a good place to find peace” in the negotiations it wants to conduct with Russia.
“Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett is trying to find a way to negotiate with Russia and we appreciate that. […]. It can be in Jerusalem, it’s a good place to find peace,” Zelensky said in a video posted by Telegram.
Bennett has attempted to mediate between Ukraine and Russia and has traveled to Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin.shortly after the invasion began, and had several telephone conversations with Zelenskyy.
The Ukrainian ruler is ironic about “Russian propaganda” He noted that “for the first time in history, a President of a foreign nation has addressed the Knesset and the entire nation of Israel via video.” The President of Ukraine, accused of Nazism in Russia, addressed the Knesset, Israel’s parliament.
Putin has labeled Ukraine’s leadership “neoNazis” and said the offensive against Ukraine seeks to “denazify” the country.
Zelenskyy, who is Jewish, called on Israel to “make a decision” to support Ukraine against Russia. in a video conference message to Israeli MPs.
According to the Israeli press, Bennett has repeatedly turned down requests for military aid from Kyiv.
The Jewish state has not joined Western sanctions against Russia and oligarchs close to Putin. Some of them have Israeli nationality, like Roman Abramovich, former owner of English football club Chelsea.
However, Israel vowed last week it would not allow Moscow and the sanctioned oligarchs to “evade sanctions and will send a clinic to western Ukraine this week.
*With information from AFP and Europa Press.
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