Zelensky addresses European Council: Russia must not return to peace talks feeling stronger
President Volodymyr Zelensky said he has received signals from the United States that peace negotiations could resume soon, but he warned that the Russians must not approach talks with a sense that their position has grown stronger.
He made the remarks in an online address to participants of the European Council meeting, Ukrinform reports.
“In the past few days, we have received signals from the American side that talks may resume soon. But with what mindset will the Russian side come to the talks this time? It depends on all of us together to make sure the Russians do not come to these talks feeling that their position has grown much stronger. And it is not only because of the situation around Iran, which is pushing global oil prices higher,” Zelensky said.
He outlined five factors that are strengthening Russia’s position,
“First, Russians see active use of air defense missiles in the Middle East and the Gulf region, and they may think Ukraine will face a shortage of such missiles. Second, the EU’s 20th sanctions package against Russia is stalled. It could have continued the pressure on Russia to move toward real peace. Third, the United States has eased some sanctions on Russia, and this brings significant money into Putin’s war budged,” the Ukrainian President said.
The fourth factor, he said, is that for the third consecutive month, Europe’s most important financial security guarantee for Ukraine – the €90 billion support package for this year and the next – has not been operational. “This is critical for us. It is a resource to protect lives,” the President emphasized.
And the fifth factor, according to Zelensky, is that even today, it is still unclear whether this support will actually be unblocked.
Earlier, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said there is currently a pause in the Moscow-Kyiv negotiations mediated by Washington.
Previous trilateral talks between Ukraine, the U.S., and Russia were held in Geneva on February 17–18.
On March 9, Zelenskyy noted that due to developments in the Middle East, new trilateral talks scheduled for early March were postponed at the suggestion of the U.S. side.
On March 11, U.S. President’s Envoy Steve Witkoff said he already sees signs of a turning point in negotiations to end Russia’s war against Ukraine, as the parties are “exhausted.”
According to Zelensky, a planned trilateral meeting in the U.S. remains uncertain because the Russian delegation is “not ready to fly to America.”
Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine