Zelensky: We will not give anything to anyone

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, after President Putin’s decision to recognize the independence of the DPR and LPR, made an appeal to the nation, which was broadcast by the Rada TV channel.

“We are not afraid of anything or anyone. We don’t owe anything to anyone. And we will not give anything to anyone,” the Ukrainian leader said, stressing that Ukraine’s borders “will remain as recognized by the international community.” He also added that by the decisions taken on Monday, Russia “legalized the presence of its troops, which in fact have been in the occupied areas of Donbass since 2014.” According to him, Ukraine “has the right to defense in a collective and individual format, its borders are reliably protected.”

Zelensky noted that “recognition of the independence of the occupied regions of Donetsk and Luhansk regions may mean Russia’s unilateral withdrawal from the Minsk agreements.”

“It is very important to see now who is our true friend and partner, and who will continue to scare the Russian Federation with words,” the President of Ukraine added, stressing that he expects “clear and effective steps of support” from the country’s partners.

“An emergency convening of the Normandy Four summit has been initiated. I initiated the convening of a meeting of the UN Security Council, holding a special meeting of the OSCE,” Zelensky said. Ukraine, he said, also insists on the full-fledged work of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to prevent provocations and further escalation.

On February 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed decrees recognizing the independence of the republics of Donbass. He also instructed the Russian military to ensure the maintenance of peace on the territory of the DNR and LNR.