Zelensky: “The document on peace with Russia is already on Trump’s desk”
24 April 15:48
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine is ready for an unconditional ceasefire and the start of negotiations with Russia. At the same time, he emphasized that Ukraine will not give up its territories and demands the return of children abducted by Russia. He said this during a visit to South Africa at a press conference with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. "Komersant Ukrainian" has collected the most important messages of the Ukrainian leader.
“There will be no peace without silence”: Ukraine reiterates its readiness for a ceasefire
Opening his speech, Zelenskyy mentioned Russia’s large-scale missile attack on Ukraine last night. He said that more than 200 air targets attacked peaceful cities, and there were dozens of wounded and dead, including young people.
“We have been fighting for our freedom in a full-scale war for more than three years. We are fighting against the Russian occupation, against the humiliation of our people,”
– Zelensky said.
He emphasized that Ukraine had been ready for a ceasefire as early as Easter and had acted in a “mirror image”:
“We were absolutely ready for this and acted in a mirror image – we responded to silence with silence. But we defended ourselves against Russian strikes.”
Kyiv accepted Trump’s offer, Moscow did not
Answering journalists’ questions about the US plan, Zelenskyy confirmed:
“President Trump and his team in Saudi Arabia proposed an unconditional ceasefire. Ukraine has accepted it. Russia has not.”
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“A new peace document is already on Trump’s desk”
According to President Zelenskyy, the meeting in London between representatives of Ukraine, Britain, Europe, and the United States was constructive and fruitful. The parties heard each other and developed a document that was sent to the US President’s desk.
“The United States of America offered its vision in London. Our team, the European team, and representatives of the United States talked, and the relevant points appeared on paper. After the US proposal, other papers appeared. And I believe that today this format, this document, is on President Trump’s desk,”
– zelenskyy said.
At the same time, the President of Ukraine once again warned that no proposals that contradict the Constitution can be part of a peace agreement:
“Anything that contradicts our values or our Constitution cannot be in any agreement.”
A compromise has already been made: “We are ready to talk to those who organized all this”
Zelenskyy emphasized that the very fact that Ukraine is ready to negotiate with the aggressor country is already a significant compromise.
“We are ready to sit down at the negotiating table after a complete ceasefire with those who organized all this on our land. This is a huge compromise,”
– he said.
“This is a red line.” Zelensky demands return of children abducted by Russia
During the meeting with Ramaphosa, the President of Ukraine handed over a list of 400 Ukrainian children who, according to Zelensky, are “held against their will in Russia.” He emphasized that the return of children and prisoners of war is one of Kyiv’s absolute priorities:
“We must return everyone, as well as thousands of prisoners who have been held in Russian prisons for years. This is our red line.”
Security guarantees instead of concessions: “We do not want a new war in a year”
Zelenskyy also spoke about security guarantees. He clearly stated: Ukraine will not agree to a frozen conflict and demands a system of guarantees that will prevent new aggression in the future:
“We do not want this to be a frozen conflict, and in a year or two or three a new war will start. The security guarantors should be strong players – the United States, Europe, countries that are not afraid of Russia and have influence.”
