Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stressed that no country or world leader has the right to negotiate with Russia on behalf of Ukraine. He noted that any dialogue with the Kremlin must be held according to an agreed action plan and only from a position of strength.

Summary

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asserted that no world leader has the right to negotiate with Russian President Vladimir Putin on behalf of Ukraine.

Speaking to Le Parisien readers, Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine alone determines its future and any dialogue with Russia must follow a peace plan based on strength and international support.

He warned against negotiating without clear guarantees of security, highlighting the risks of Putin resuming aggression after a ceasefire.

Zelenskyy called for a strategy ensuring Ukraine’s long-term stability and security, beyond NATO or EU membership timelines.

  • electric_nan@lemmy.mlEnglish
    1030·
    8 days ago

    The right? Maybe not. The ability though? Certainly. Specifically the US absolutely has the power to negotiate an end to the war with Putin.

    • legion02@lemmy.worldEnglish
      22·
      8 days ago

      They could negotiate Russia’s end to the war using their own resources (ie. Mostly the embargos) but anything Ukraine forfeits would have to be negotiated by them. The US can’t just cede another nation’s land.

      • brucethemoose@lemmy.worldEnglish
        12·
        8 days ago

        We effectively can if we threaten to pull all support and harass Ukraine instead…

        Not that I want that, or have any say in that as a US citizen…

        • legion02@lemmy.worldEnglish
          5·
          8 days ago

          There’s no threat needed. Zalenskyy already knows he’s losing US support after January.

      • small44@lemmy.worldEnglish
        67·
        8 days ago

        Unfortunately the US definitely can since it gave a lot of military aid to Ukraine. It can force Ukraine to cede land

      • electric_nan@lemmy.mlEnglish
        47·
        8 days ago

        The effect would be exactly that. Actually the US ending support for Ukraine would result in not just ceding current borders, but huge additional losses.

        • legion02@lemmy.worldEnglish
          2·
          8 days ago

          This is literally Zalenskyy saying we can’t negotiate for him while knowing that he’s losing US support in January.

          • electric_nan@lemmy.mlEnglish
            42·
            8 days ago

            He’s doing whatever he can, but ultimately him saying this doesn’t make it so-- no matter how much he (or you) wish it would. Ukraine has been losing ground even with US support and they will only lose more without it. To pretend otherwise is to live in a fantasy. In such a situation the US has at least as much control over how much Ukrainian territory ends up under Russian occupation, as does Ukraine.

            • legion02@lemmy.worldEnglish
              2·
              8 days ago

              You’re confusing losing land because you can’t hold it militarily with negotiating an end to the invasion by ceding land. He’s said that no one will negotiate for Ukraine but Ukraine and since the incoming US administration has already said they’ll be ending support we really don’t have any leverage to encourage them to accept any terms. We can’t threaten to remove support that we’ve already said we’re removing.

              • electric_nan@lemmy.mlEnglish
                3·
                8 days ago

                I’m saying that there isn’t much of a difference. I agree that Ukraine is fucked and that the time for negotiations is long gone. Why would Russia negotiate now when they expect a clear advantage on the horizon?

                I think Zelensky is saying this to look tough and keep the support from Europe coming in at least.