President of Ukraine rules out recognizing the independence of Donbas requested by Russia, but remains open to negotiating with Vladimir Putin

The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyaffirmed this Sunday that he is “prepared” to negotiate with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putinto end the war, but ruled out recognizing the independence of Donbas and Russian sovereignty over Crimea.

In an interview with CNN, the president emphatically stated that it will not undertake “any commitment affecting the territorial integrity and sovereignty” of Ukraine.

Putin’s three conditions

The Kremlin has made it a condition to end its invasion that kyiv renounces joining NATO, recognizes the independence of the self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Lugansk, in Donbas, and Russian control of Crimea, annexed by Moscow in 2014.

“We have to use every opportunity to negotiate and talk with Putin. If these attempts fail, that will mean World War III.” Zelenski said about the negotiations that both countries have held in Belarus.

But the president stated that “as president and citizen” cannot recognize the independence of Ukrainian territories.

He assured that the Ukrainian people have made it clear, since “they have not received the Russian soldiers with a bouquet of flowers, but with courage and weapons in their hands.”

Why did Russia never join NATO?

Regarding the eventual entry into NATO, Zelensky assured that the Alliance itself has ruled out admitting Ukraine, for which he considered that kyiv should seek “other security alternatives” with its allies.

“Ukraine cannot say that it will not join NATO. It is NATO that has said it will not admit Ukraine.” express.

Although Zelensky thanked the military and weapons support he has received from NATO members to face the invasion, he asserted that the war would not have started if Ukraine had been admitted as a member of the Alliance.

Vladimir Putin’s three conditions to stop his military action in Ukraine

The Ukrainian president, of Jewish origin, revealed that “one of the few times” he has laughed since the beginning of the invasion was when he heard Putin say that the goal of the military operation is to “denazify” Ukraine.

The invasion, launched on February 24 after weeks of tension on the border by the accumulation of Russian troops, has caused the flight of three million refugees and the death of at least 900 civilians, according to the UN. (I)