Ukraine’s President dismisses Russia’s ultimatum, saying any concessions must be voted on

The Ukrainian president affirmed that the people will have to speak up and react to any concessions. (Source: AP)

“Ukraine cannot meet Russia’s ultimatums,” Zelensky told local media. We can only be destroyed if their ultimatum is met.”

Saying that Moscow wants Ukraine to “hand over” Kharkov, Mariupol and the capital Kiev, the leader stated that neither he nor the people of these cities could do so.

According to him, any concessions agreed with Russia to end the current hostilities will also need to be voted on by the Ukrainian people in a referendum.

People will have to speak up and respond to concessions. And what those concessions are will be the subject of discussion between Moscow and Kiev, depending on understanding between the two sides.

The issues likely to be put to the referendum, he added, could concern the territories Russia controls, including Crimea, or the security guarantees Ukraine received to renounce joining the Russian Federation. join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

In addition, the President of Ukraine affirmed that it is necessary to have a meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin “in any framework”: “I believe that without this meeting, it would be impossible to fully understand. what they are willing to accept to stop the war.”