The Guardian: Russia has created a ‘simple business model’ and is making money from Ukraine’s grain

V. Zelensky spoke about negotiations with V. Putin: let’s forget for a second that he is a murderer

Currently, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is visiting Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he hopes to encourage the governments of Latin American countries to support Ukraine more strongly in the war with Russia.

In an interview with the regional media, when asked about negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the country’s leader stated that he really does not want peace in Ukraine, so negotiations with him or the Kremlin’s allies are impossible, as are compromises.

“First of all, he doesn’t need peace. When we want to solve a problem, we have to understand that all parties need it. We want to end the war,” V. Zelenskis said.

AFP/Scanpix/President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky

However, he emphasized that he could not imagine negotiations with V. Putin or the Russian side regarding the people living in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.

“How can I negotiate with V. Putin?” Let’s forget for a second that he’s a murderer. With the Russian side? How can I negotiate with him about the people who are in some of the occupied towns and villages who live there? And here two people or two teams sit down and say: let them be yours. Who are we to decide where a person should live, who they should be, what language they should speak, what flag they should respect? Who are we?” said the President of Ukraine.

He emphasized that according to the Constitution of Ukraine, he must protect the rights and freedoms of the people, help them and free them from the occupiers. Beside him must be citizens ready to take up arms and help the occupied people.

“Does anyone want to die? No. All are alive. But this man does not want any dialogue, he does not want to end the war. Two words on the phone would be enough for him to stop the war today. Tell your soldiers to withdraw. This is a complete restoration (territories – ed.), then pure diplomacy, then a conversation without any weapons. This person does not want to do it, he is not interested”, emphasized V. Zelenskis.

The country’s leader reminded that in 2014, after Russia occupied part of Donbass, V. Putin said that he did not intend to start a full-fledged war against Ukraine. Then his excuse was that he was supposedly helping Russian speakers.

“If that’s the case, why did he start a full-scale war?” Everything he says is untrue. He is not interested in an independent Ukraine, he needs Ukraine to be part of Russia, an enclave, as he did with Belarus, as he did with Moldova, Sakartvel.

Everywhere, as in our country, it seizes a part of a solid territory so that there is no stability, and over time it can come and seize the whole territory. Ukraine is just a big country and he failed. So what could he compromise on? Who is he? I can’t traffic people. And with whom? With a man whose word is worth nothing. This is not a guarantee,” V. Zelenskis did not hide his disappointment.

Ukraine and Russia held several rounds of talks at the start of the full invasion, but they are now “suspended”. The Ukrainian government emphasizes that Ukraine will not return to the negotiating table until Moscow withdraws its troops.