Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed hope on Thursday for a planned meeting with American officials, in addition to appreciating Europe’s move to reinforce its defense power amid Russia’s continuing war.
Zelenskyy, The Guardian reported, was insistent that any cease-fire had to be built on mutual trust with Russia ceasing bombardment of civilian infrastructure and military actions in the Black Sea. He pointed out that releasing captives could be an essential stepping stone toward establishing trust.
Addressing a summit in Brussels, where the leaders of European countries met to talk about defense expenditure and assistance to Ukraine, Zelenskyy reaffirmed Ukraine’s dedication to peace but emphasized that it should not be at the cost of sovereignty. He reassured European countries that Ukraine would be transparent in negotiations and decision-making.
The actual question for any talks is whether Russia will give up war,” Zelenskyy said, stating that Ukraine would keep European allies posted on peace negotiations. He also emphasized the need to involve Ukraine in all security-related discussions to achieve stable stability.
Zelenskyy expressed concerns regarding ongoing Russian military aggression in the form of continued ballistic missile attacks and incursions across the border. He cautioned that Moscow is increasing its military capabilities, calling on Europe to increase its own defense capacities.
He showed firm backing for the European Commission’s ReArm Europe Plan and urged a share of its defense budget to be spent on arms manufacturing in Ukraine. He also advocated for additional EU sanctions against Russia, calling for a 17th package of sanctions to keep pressure on Moscow.
In the meantime, senior delegations from the US and Ukraine are due to meet in Riyadh next week to repair relations, with Ukrainian Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak to head the negotiations.
