Volodymyr Zelensky at a meeting with journalists stated that Russia is putting forward «some unrealistic conditions». «Putin wants to sell us some kind of „air“ — that he will not attack us, and in return give up what you control. I think this is just his whim and he understands that it will not be so. Maybe he is counting on this because he does not want to end the war. He preemptively gives some conditions so that we cannot accept them», — said the President of Ukraine.
He also added that Ukraine legally does not recognize the occupation of Ukrainian territories by Russia. According to him, when it comes to «red lines» for Ukraine, it is necessary to understand what Russia is really capable of. Zelensky explained that during a conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump, he explained to him that since the beginning of the full-scale war, Russia has occupied not 69% of Donetsk region, but a third of it, another third of the region and Crimea were captured before 2022. «Currently, they hold somewhere around 67-69% in total. So we say that in almost 4 years of full-scale war they have occupied a third of Donetsk region. And therefore I explained that the stories that by the end of the year they will occupy our Donbas, — these are all just talks. That is, to occupy our Donbas, they need another 4 years», — Zelensky explained and clarified that Russia also cannot capture Sumy and Kharkiv regions.
The President of Ukraine also believes that Kyiv received a positive signal from Donald Trump, who reported on the participation of the USA in security guarantees for Ukraine. This opens up the possibility for other countries to join collective guarantees, even if not within NATO.
Zelensky noted that as of today it is not known how many countries are ready to participate in the program of attracting foreign military contingents as a guarantee force for protection against Russian aggression.
In the coalition of willing countries, there are 30 countries that are potentially considering their participation in security guarantees. Some will send troops, some will help with weapons and participate in the protection of the sky.
Zelensky once again stated that Ukraine is ready for any configuration of meetings with Vladimir Putin, but expressed doubt that Moscow is also striving for a peaceful agreement.
According to him, in Russia they understand the threats of sanctions and because of this they want to end the war, but with some kind of «victory for themselves». «They invented a victory for themselves, I believe, — our withdrawal from Donbas. I think this is what they invented as a victory — what they want to sell within their own country», — Zelensky stated.