Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was ready on Monday to discuss with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin a “compromise” on Donbass and Crimea to “stop the war”. Any compromise on these territories will however have to be ratified by Ukrainians in a referendum, and be accompanied by security guarantees for his country, he however warned. And he also warned that Ukraine will be “destroyed” before he surrenders.
These questions are “relevant” according to Zelensky
“During the very first meeting with the President of Russia, I am ready to raise these issues, they are relevant, they are important for us, about the occupied territories,” Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview with Suspilne, a Ukrainian regional public media. He said he was ready, during this hypothetical meeting with Vladimir Putin, to “try to address everything that annoys and displeases Russia”. “I believe that the issue of Crimea and Donbass is a very difficult story for everyone,” admitted Volodymyr Zelensky.
Crimea was annexed by Russia in 2014, and Donbass is a region in eastern Ukraine where pro-Russian separatists have proclaimed two “republics”, recognized only by Moscow. “I believe that, without this meeting, it is impossible to fully understand what they (the Russians) are ready for in order to stop the war”, continued the Ukrainian head of state. “To find a way out, we must first take the first step towards security guarantees” and end hostilities, he noted.
An agreement that should be submitted to a referendum
A possible agreement with Moscow on Crimea and Donbass will have to be submitted to a referendum, he warned. “I explained it to all the negotiating groups: when you talk about all these changes, and they can be historic, (…) we will come to a referendum,” he said. “The people will have to decide on certain forms of compromise. And what they (the compromises) will consist of is up to our conversations” with Russia, continued the Ukrainian president.
“I am ready for anything, as long as it is in agreement with our people,” he insisted. “In no way do I want to divide our state.” He reiterated that Ukraine could “not accept any ultimatum from Russia”. “I don’t want history to make us heroes and a nation that doesn’t exist,” he said, “if the nation is destroyed, there will be no room for heroism. “.
“Other security guarantees” than NATO
Volodymyr Zelensky also spoke at length about the key issue of NATO. “We have all already understood this. We are not accepted (in NATO), because they (its member states) are afraid of Russia. That’s all. And we have to calm down and say: OK , (it will take) other security guarantees,” he said.
“There are NATO countries who want to be guarantors of (Ukraine’s) security (…) who are ready to do everything that the Alliance would have to do if we were members of it. And I think it’s a normal compromise,” added Volodymyr Zelensky. Moscow says it wants a guarantee that Ukraine will never enter NATO, an organization created to protect Europe from the threat of the USSR at the start of the Cold War and which has gradually expanded to the gates of Russia.