Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that Ukraine is ready to support peace initiatives proposed by Europe and U.S. President Donald Trump, but not on the condition that the Ukrainian army “withdraw somewhere.”
He said this during a joint press conference with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson at the Saab plant on Wednesday, Ukrinform reports.
“Ukraine is ready to move toward diplomacy. We support the idea of a ceasefire. We are ready for diplomacy, but not on the terms that we must withdraw somewhere, giving the aggressor our land and our territory,” Zelensky said.
Zelensky noted that the pressure on Russian leader Vladimir Putin is still insufficient to force him to sit down at the negotiating table.
“We don’t have enough pressure on the Russians,” he said.
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He added that at the upcoming EU summit in Brussels on Thursday, October 23, the issue of using frozen Russian assets will be discussed, which he described as critically important.
“A decision on Russian assets is needed – it’s a difficult decision. I hope that tomorrow we’ll have a chance. We understand that it’s not an easy decision. Russia will do everything possible to prevent us from making it […] because they understand they need to reduce funding for Ukraine during the war,” Zelensky said.
He also expressed hope that the EU would adopt its 19th package of sanctions against Russia tomorrow.
On Tuesday, October 21, the leaders of several European countries and EU institutions issued a joint statement supporting U.S. President Donald Trump’s initiative for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine and the start of peace talks based on the current front line.