KYIV - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in speech to the nation, he declared that he would not betray the interests of his country and called on his compatriots to remain united in one of the most difficult moments in Ukraine's history. The country may face a very difficult choice regarding the 28-point plan put forward by the United States. According to the President, Ukraine is in danger of either losing its dignity and freedom or losing a key partner. According to Reuters, the head of state has promised to work with the US on the plan. He added that he expected even more political pressure on Kiev in the coming week.
„One of the most difficult moments in our history has come. The current pressure on Ukraine is one of the greatest. Ukraine may face a very difficult choice: either to lose its dignity or to risk losing a key partner. Either 28 points or an extremely difficult winter, the most difficult ever, and other risks. A life without freedom, without dignity, without justice - and that is to believe those who have attacked us twice already. They will expect an answer from us,“ Zelensky told Ukrainska Pravda.
The president stressed that he himself responded in May 2019 by taking the oath of allegiance to Ukraine, pledging to defend the sovereignty and independence of the homeland, the rights and freedoms of citizens, RBK-Ukraine reported. „We did not betray Ukraine in February 2022 and we will not do it now,“ he told his compatriots, according to the BBC, stressing that in negotiations it will be much easier for him to convince partners and achieve a dignified peace if he is 100 percent sure that the Ukrainian people are behind him.
Zelensky promised that the Ukrainian side will calmly cooperate with America and all partners, will constructively seek solutions with the main partner (the US), will come up with arguments himself, will persuade and offer alternatives. „But we will certainly not give the enemy reasons to say that Ukraine does not want peace, that it is the one that is disrupting the (peace) process and that Ukraine is not ready for diplomacy,“ he said. He promised that Ukraine would work quickly, and do everything possible to end the war.
Washington is pushing Kiev to accept its plan to end the war in Ukraine. The plan, the verbatim text of which was published by the media overnight today, envisages, among other things, concessions from Kiev, including territorial ones, in favour of Russia, which invaded the neighbouring country in February 2022. Under the proposed plan, Ukraine would give up Crimea and the entire Donbas, as well as the occupied parts of Kherson and Zaporozhye regions. It should also enshrine in its constitution that it will not join NATO. According to Reuters sources, the United States has threatened Ukraine that it will stop arms deliveries and intelligence sharing if it does not accept the proposal to end the war.
ČTK/ceskenoviny.cz/gnews.cz-jav
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