This is reported by RBK-Ukraine, citing the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky in an interview with Ukrainian Radio.
“Provided that Ukraine is not left alone with the Russian Federation and that Ukraine remains strong. What kind of negotiations can there be with a murderer? If we are speaking directly with Putin, simply with a murderer, we are in the conditions we are now, unstrengthened by some important elements, this is a losing status for Ukraine at the outset of negotiations,” he stated.
Zelensky emphasized the importance of the newly elected U.S. President Donald Trump’s stance on Ukraine. According to him, the change in Trump’s mood will determine a shift in U.S. policy.
“Therefore, in mediation, there are always certain challenges for me. Anyone can be a mediator, but one cannot abstractly say ‘I am a mediator, so I cannot choose one side or the other.’ No. In unconditional values and violations of international law, that cannot be the case,” the head of state declared.
Zelensky added that the U.S. must maintain its supportive stance that Ukraine is a victim and the Russian Federation is an aggressor and violator of international law. In the president's opinion, this should be one of the points for starting negotiations on any platform.