Zelenskyy rejects ceding Crimea as US peace plan emerges
Ukraine's President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, announced that "very important" meetings could take place in the coming days, aimed at bringing closer the end of the war in Ukraine and achieving peace.
He stressed that an unconditional ceasefire is necessary.
"Real pressure is needed on Russia to accept either the American proposal for a ceasefire and progress towards peace, or our proposal – any proposal that can truly work and guarantee a safe, immediate, and unconditional ceasefire, followed by a dignified peace and security guarantees," Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated.
The Ukrainian president reiterated the importance of resolving the conflict through diplomatic means. "'Diplomacy must work. And we are doing everything so that diplomacy becomes truly substantial and finally yields results'," affirmed Zelenskyy.
At the same time, the Kyiv leader reaffirmed on Friday, during a press conference, that Ukraine's position regarding Crimea remains "unchanged," despite pressure, including from the US, to reach a cessation of hostilities.
"'Our position remains unchanged, all temporarily occupied territories belong to Ukraine'," Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed, given that, according to press reports, the recognition of Russia's annexation of Crimea features in an American peace plan.
Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine is ready to discuss any territorial issues only after Russia completely and unconditionally ceases fire, according to the Unian agency.
At the same time, the Ukrainian president admitted that Ukraine currently does not possess sufficient weapons to retake Crimea by force. However, he insisted that renouncing the peninsula is excluded.
"'Our position cannot contravene the Constitution of Ukraine. We cannot give anything away. This is not my property. This is the property of the Ukrainian people'," Zelenskyy stated when asked if he would be willing to accept the temporary renunciation of territories for the sake of peace.
"'All this land belongs to Ukraine'," the Ukrainian leader underscored, referring to the territories occupied and annexed by Russia.
It is worth noting that in an interview for 'Time' magazine, the US president stated that the US "had very good discussions with Moscow" and that they are "very close to an agreement." His promise to end the war in Ukraine from the very first day of his term was, in his words, a "symbolic exaggeration": "Obviously, people understand that it was said in jest, but it was also said that this will end," Trump stressed.
Also, today, US President Donald Trump stated that the Crimean peninsula will "remain with Russia."
Reuters published the content of the official proposals presented by White House special envoy Steven Witkoff during negotiations in Paris on April 17. According to the document, the US promises Ukraine "solid security guarantees," offered by a group of European and non-European states. At the same time, Ukraine will no longer pursue NATO membership but will be able to pursue integration into the European Union.
The plan provides for a permanent ceasefire agreement between Moscow and Kyiv and the initiation of a technical dialogue regarding its implementation. The plan also provides that the US will recognize de jure Russia's control over Crimea, the Luhansk region, as well as over the occupied areas in the Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, and Kherson regions. Ukraine would recover the territories in the Kharkiv region, and the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant will be administered by the US, with a mechanism of indirect control by Kyiv. Additionally, Ukraine will have "free access" on the Dnipro River and control over the Kinburn Spit.
Reuters also published the response proposals formulated by Ukraine and several European states. They request "solid security guarantees, including from the US," similar to Article 5 of the NATO Treaty, for the period during which there is no consensus regarding Ukraine's accession to the Alliance. At the same time, it is stated that any territorial discussion must be postponed until a complete and unconditional ceasefire.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
