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Ukraine without freedom and justice – Zelensky warns of a historic turning point in Europe

TVNET

Latvia

Friday, November 21


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US Pressure and Ultimatum Perspective

Ukrainian Willingness to Negotiate Perspective


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"Now Ukraine may face a very difficult choice: either loss of respect, or the risk of losing a key partner. Either a difficult 28 points, or an extremely difficult winter, the most severe and further risks. Life without freedom, respect and justice - and for us to believe the one who has already attacked twice," Zelensky said.

He also pointed out that Ukraine's national interests must be taken into account when discussing Washington's peace plan.

"We will peacefully cooperate with Europe and America," he said.

"I will offer alternatives, but we will definitely not give the enemy a reason to say that it is Ukraine that does not want peace," Zelensky said.

"We are, of course, steel, but any metal, even the strongest, may not withstand," Zelensky said.

"We need to come together, come to our senses, stop arguing, stop playing political games. The country needs to work, the parliament of a warring country needs to work unitedly, the government of a warring country needs to work effectively," Zelensky said.

According to Zelensky, the next week will be difficult,"there will be a lot of pressure, political, informational."

"We did not give up Ukraine in February 2022, we will not do it now," he said."I know for sure that in this truly one of the most difficult moments in our history, I am not alone. That Ukrainians believe in their country, that we are united. And in all the formats of upcoming meetings, discussions, negotiations with partners, it will be much easier for me to achieve a decent peace for us and convince them, knowing that the Ukrainian people are one hundred percent behind me."

LETA agency has already reported that a draft plan obtained by AFP shows that the 28-point plan proposed by the US to end the war in Ukraine envisages not only the occupied territories remaining under Russian control, but also Ukraine's commitment not to join NATO, not to expand the alliance, and Russia's return to the G8.

Kiev should also abandon the idea of deploying Western peacekeeping forces in Ukraine, although European warplanes would be deployed in Poland to protect Ukraine.

A US official told AFP that the draft plan includes strong security guarantees for Kiev, modeled on NATO rules, which would commit the US and its European allies to responding to any attack on Ukraine.

A comprehensive non-aggression pact would be concluded between Russia, Ukraine and Europe, and all differences of the last 30 years would be considered resolved, the plan says.

Russia, in turn, would be readmitted to the G8, from which it was expelled in 2014 after the annexation of Crimea, its sanctions would be lifted, and it would be"reintegrated into the global economy." If Russia invaded Ukraine again, sanctions would be reinstated.

Under the plan, US President Donald Trump would head a"peace council" that would oversee the ceasefire.

The main proposals in the plan correspond to Moscow's current requirements.

They stipulate that Ukraine would have to hand over to Russia those parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions that it does not already control. The Donetsk and Luhansk regions, as well as Crimea, would be recognized as de facto Russian-controlled territories, and a demilitarized zone would be established in Donbass.

In the Zaporizhia and Kherson regions, which Russia has claimed as its territory but does not fully control, the front line would be frozen. Russian troops would have to leave the occupied territories in other regions of Ukraine.

Once all parties agreed to this plan and both sides retreated to the agreed points to begin implementing it, a ceasefire would come into effect immediately.

Both sides would be granted an amnesty covering wartime offenses.

The plan stipulates that the ban on Ukraine joining NATO should be enshrined in both the Ukrainian constitution and the NATO charter. However, the plan states that Ukraine has the right to join the European Union and, while this issue is being considered, it will have preferential access to the EU market.

Kiev would also have to reduce the size of its army by slightly less than half - to 600,000.

There are no strict military restrictions on Russia. The plan states that"it is expected that Russia will not invade neighboring countries and that there will be no further expansion of NATO," and that NATO will not deploy troops in Ukraine.

Russia should establish a policy of non-aggression against Europe and Ukraine by law, and the United States and Russia should extend nuclear arms control and non-proliferation treaties, including START I.

Ukraine should hold elections within 100 days, another Russian demand echoed by Trump, who earlier this year called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky a"dictator without elections." Martial law is currently in effect in Ukraine, and the country's constitution prohibits holding elections during martial law.

The plan also says that $100 billion of frozen Russian assets would be invested in a U.S.-led effort to rebuild and invest in Ukraine, with the U.S. receiving 50% of the profits. In addition, Europe would provide another $100 billion to increase the amount of investment available for Ukraine's reconstruction.

It is also planned to reach an agreement on the unhindered transportation of grain across the Black Sea.

The Russian-occupied Zaporizhia nuclear power plant would resume operations under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency, and the electricity it produces would be received in equal shares by Russia and Ukraine.

Zelensky has said he hopes to discuss the plan with Trump"in the coming days." He has said any agreement must achieve a "respectful peace" that respects Ukraine's sovereignty.

The content of the proposed plan has fueled speculation that Moscow was involved in its development.

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