And, in another apparent gesture of openness to Moscow’s demands, Zelenski said he was willing to reach a “compromise” on the status of the separatist territories in eastern Ukraine, whose independence the Russian president unilaterally recognized, Vladimir Putinjust before launching the war in February.
“Regarding NATO, I moderated my position on this issue some time ago, when we understood” that the Atlantic Alliance “is not ready to accept Ukraine,” he said in this interview broadcast on Monday night.
“The Alliance is afraid of anything controversial and of a confrontation with Russia,” he lamented.
Zelensky added that he does not want to be the president of a “country begging on its knees” to join the organization.
Russia, which invaded Ukraine on February 24 and is waging war in this former Soviet republic, is demanding guarantees that Kiev will never join NATO, a transatlantic alliance created to protect Europe from the threat of the Soviet Union at the start of the war. Cold War and gradually expanded.
The Kremlin considers this enlargement and the military positions of the Western Allies near the Russian borders to be threatening.
Shortly before the invasion, President Putin recognized Donetsk and Lugansk as “republics” and is now demanding that Ukraine also recognize their independence.
On this issue, President Zelensky told ABC that he is open to dialogue.
“I am talking about security guarantees. I think that when it comes to these temporarily occupied territories that have only been recognized by Russia, we can discuss and find a compromise on the future of these territories,” he explained.
“The important thing for me is how the people who are in these territories and who want to be part of Ukraine are going to live,” he added, considering that the issue is “more complex than simply recognizing them.”
“This is another ultimatum and we reject the ultimatums. What is needed is for President Putin to start a debate, start a dialogue, instead of living in a bubble,” he said.
Source: Ambito
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