President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a comprehensive discussion with British journalist Piers Morgan. The Head of State outlined Ukraine’s position on the Geneva negotiations, the possibility of elections, and territorial integrity. Zelenskyy emphasized that surrendering the Donetsk and Luhansk regions is not an option, as it is a matter of people, values, and national defense strategy.
The Ukrainian leader reported these details during the interview. According to him, recent consultations in Geneva revealed significant disagreements among Ukraine, the US, and Russia. The parties hold different views on territorial issues, yet the Ukrainian delegation remains constructive. Zelenskyy noted that Kyiv aims to end the full-scale war without getting trapped in the historical talk that Vladimir Putin uses as a tactic to stall for time.
Negotiations and territorial integrity
The president rejected proposals to withdraw troops from the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. He explained that tens of thousands of citizens died protecting these territories, making any concessions unacceptable to Ukrainian society.
“We do not have the same views. We have three different views on the issue of territories. I think it is not easy, but we tried to be very constructive,” Zelenskyy stated.
He also supports the US position that achieving a ceasefire is the first necessary step before diplomatic solutions.
Security guarantees and elections
Zelenskyy expressed readiness to hold elections if a two-month ceasefire is established, even though Parliament and the public do not currently support the idea.
“I think our partners have to answer one question: what do they want? Do they want elections, or do they just want to replace me? Because, as I think, the Russians just want to replace me,” says Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Regarding NATO, the president asserted that Ukraine has completed all necessary steps for membership.
Meeting with Vladimir Putin
Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the only thing he wants to discuss with the Russian president is the rapid end of the war. He emphasized that he understands the Russian mentality better than their leader does.
“I know more about his country than he knows about Ukraine. Simply because I have been to many cities in Russia. And I knew many people there. He has never been to Ukraine that many times. He was only in big cities. I was in small towns. From north to south. Everywhere. I know their mentality,” Zelenskyy said.
He added that because of this, he refuses to waste time on historical discussions used by the Kremlin to stall for time.
Previously, The Ukrainian Review reported that Zelenskyy assesses the Geneva talks, military progress, and political differences.
