(Reuters) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s chief of workers stated in an interview broadcast late on Thursday that Kyiv was not but prepared to start out talks with Russia because it lacked the weapons, safety ensures and worldwide standing that it sought.
Andriy Yermak’s feedback to public broadcaster Suspilne come as Zelenskiy publicly considers the potential for a negotiated settlement to the conflict with Russia, launched by Moscow’s full-scale invasion of its neighbour in February 2022.
“Not just yet today,” Yermak informed Suspilne, when requested whether or not Ukraine was able to embark on talks.
“We don’t have the weapons, we don’t have the status that we are talking about. And that means an invitation to NATO and an understanding of clear guarantees that would provide for us, so that we could be sure that (Russian President Vladimir) Putin won’t be coming back in two-three years.”
In feedback this week alongside German opposition chief Friedrich Merz, Zelenskiy stated Ukraine wished an finish to the conflict and efforts had been wanted to make his nation stronger and oblige the Kremlin to work in the direction of peace.
In current public pronouncements, the president has additionally stated talks might happen with Russia nonetheless holding on to territory it has seized within the invasion.
However Ukraine, he stated, wanted an invite issued to all the nation to affix NATO, although the Alliance’s standing would apply to the territory managed by Kyiv authorities and actual safety ensures needed to be put in place.
Whereas in Paris final week, Zelenskiy met U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, who has stated, with out giving particulars, that he desires the conflict to finish shortly.
Russia has lengthy rejected any notion of Ukraine changing into a NATO member, with Putin saying Kyiv needed to settle for the Kremlin’s annexation of 4 Ukrainian areas it solely partly controls.
