Ukraine’s president vows not to exchange territory for peace

In an online speech on the night of March 25, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky once again called on Russia to negotiate to end the ongoing conflict. However, Zelensky insisted that Ukraine would not give up any part of its territory in exchange for peace.

President Zelensky’s comments appear to be in response to the statement of the Director of the Operations Department of the General Staff of the Russian Army Sergei Rudskoi on March 25 that Russia has completed the first phase of the operation. military in Ukraine and will focus on “the main goal, liberating the Donbass”.

Russian-backed separatists have controlled part of the Donbass region in eastern Ukraine since 2014. Russian forces are seeking more control of the region from Ukraine, including the city. The port of Mariupol was besieged.

General Rudskoi’s statement shows that Russia may be changing tactics, not seeking to capture the capital Kiev and other major cities, where the Russian offensive is progressing slowly.

President Zelensky noted that Russian forces have lost thousands of troops but have not yet been able to capture Kiev or Kharkov, Ukraine’s second largest city. The Russian Defense Ministry on March 25 confirmed that 1,351 Russian soldiers were killed during the military operation in Ukraine.

Zelensky said that Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity must be guaranteed. He also said that in the past week, 18 humanitarian corridors have been established and 37,606 people have been evacuated from cities under lockdown.

“The armed forces continue to repel enemy attacks in the south of the country, in the Donbass, Kharkov and the Kiev region. By restraining Russia’s actions, our forces are turning towards Russia. to a simple and appropriate position: dialogue is necessary. Dialogue in a meaningful, urgent, fair manner,” said Mr. Zelensky.

Earlier, in a speech on March 24, marking one month of Russia’s military operation in Ukraine, President Zelensky stated that “the original plan of the Russian army failed from the very first days of the war. campaign”. Zelensky said Ukraine “never threatened Russia’s security”. He declared Ukraine would do “everything to end this war”.

President Zelensky said that Ukraine’s airspace is not safe from Russian missiles and bombs. He called on countries to provide more weapons to Ukraine, and said that Ukraine has not received aircraft, modern anti-missile weapons as well as tanks and anti-ship equipment.

Meanwhile, the US and NATO have repeatedly affirmed that they will not provide fighter jets and set up a no-fly zone in Ukraine for fear of the risk of a direct conflict with Russia.

Ukrainian officials confirmed that they were ready to negotiate to de-escalate tensions, but would not accept an ultimatum. So far, though, negotiations between Russia and Ukraine have not made much progress. The two sides still disagree on a number of issues such as recognition of Russia’s Crimea peninsula, independence for two eastern breakaway regions as well as Ukraine’s neutral status.