Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stressed that no country or world leader has the right to negotiate with Russia on behalf of Ukraine. He noted that any dialogue with the Kremlin must be held according to an agreed action plan and only from a position of strength.

Summary

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asserted that no world leader has the right to negotiate with Russian President Vladimir Putin on behalf of Ukraine.

Speaking to Le Parisien readers, Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine alone determines its future and any dialogue with Russia must follow a peace plan based on strength and international support.

He warned against negotiating without clear guarantees of security, highlighting the risks of Putin resuming aggression after a ceasefire.

Zelenskyy called for a strategy ensuring Ukraine’s long-term stability and security, beyond NATO or EU membership timelines.

  • legion02@lemmy.worldEnglish
    22·
    9 days ago

    They could negotiate Russia’s end to the war using their own resources (ie. Mostly the embargos) but anything Ukraine forfeits would have to be negotiated by them. The US can’t just cede another nation’s land.

    • brucethemoose@lemmy.worldEnglish
      12·
      9 days ago

      We effectively can if we threaten to pull all support and harass Ukraine instead…

      Not that I want that, or have any say in that as a US citizen…

      • legion02@lemmy.worldEnglish
        5·
        9 days ago

        There’s no threat needed. Zalenskyy already knows he’s losing US support after January.

    • small44@lemmy.worldEnglish
      67·
      9 days ago

      Unfortunately the US definitely can since it gave a lot of military aid to Ukraine. It can force Ukraine to cede land

    • electric_nan@lemmy.mlEnglish
      47·
      9 days ago

      The effect would be exactly that. Actually the US ending support for Ukraine would result in not just ceding current borders, but huge additional losses.

      • legion02@lemmy.worldEnglish
        2·
        9 days ago

        This is literally Zalenskyy saying we can’t negotiate for him while knowing that he’s losing US support in January.

        • electric_nan@lemmy.mlEnglish
          42·
          9 days ago

          He’s doing whatever he can, but ultimately him saying this doesn’t make it so-- no matter how much he (or you) wish it would. Ukraine has been losing ground even with US support and they will only lose more without it. To pretend otherwise is to live in a fantasy. In such a situation the US has at least as much control over how much Ukrainian territory ends up under Russian occupation, as does Ukraine.

          • legion02@lemmy.worldEnglish
            2·
            9 days ago

            You’re confusing losing land because you can’t hold it militarily with negotiating an end to the invasion by ceding land. He’s said that no one will negotiate for Ukraine but Ukraine and since the incoming US administration has already said they’ll be ending support we really don’t have any leverage to encourage them to accept any terms. We can’t threaten to remove support that we’ve already said we’re removing.

            • electric_nan@lemmy.mlEnglish
              3·
              9 days ago

              I’m saying that there isn’t much of a difference. I agree that Ukraine is fucked and that the time for negotiations is long gone. Why would Russia negotiate now when they expect a clear advantage on the horizon?

              I think Zelensky is saying this to look tough and keep the support from Europe coming in at least.