State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin said that Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky needs to withdraw troops from the territories of the DPR and LPR, as well as fix on a contractual basis an obligation to recognize Crimea and the non-bloc status of Ukraine if he “thinks regarding the citizens of Ukraine.” “There is no other way,” Mr. Volodin emphasized.
“Zelensky said that Ukraine is ready to discuss with Russia the issue of refusing to join NATO and the status of Crimea, but only following hostilities cease and Russian troops are withdrawn from Ukrainian territory. At the same time, he emphasized that this should be done slowly, without haste. He also spoke before the talks in Turkey, when our military was stationed near Kiev. Russia has reduced activity in this direction, withdrew troops. Then there was a staging in Bucha and other provocations. Kyiv has renounced its obligations,” wrote in his Telegram channel Viacheslav Volodin.
The speaker of the State Duma noted that today the same scenario is being proposed, and “the reason for it is obvious.” “He wants to buy time while simultaneously turning to NATO for military assistance,” the chairman of the State Duma said. According to him, the losses of the Ukrainian army have already amounted to 23,367 people: during the liberation of Mariupol, 1,464 Ukrainian servicemen surrendered, 2,500 were blocked at the Azovstal plant.
Yesterday, April 16, Mr. Zelensky said that Ukraine was ready to discuss NATO and Crimea issues with Russia following the withdrawal of troops. Negotiations between Russia and Ukraine were last held in person on March 29 in Istanbul. On April 12, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that following the situation in Bucha, they had reached a dead end.
More news in Telegram channel “Kommersant”.
