Zelensky said at a press conference that Ukraine is preparing to seize Crimea. He did not give a date for the possible start of the operation.
“There are military steps, we are preparing for them. We are mentally ready. We are technically preparing with weapons, reinforcements, the formation of brigades, the formation of assault brigades of various categories and different qualities, we send people for training, not only in Ukraine, you know, on the estates of other states, ”
said Zelensky.
Zelensky has repeatedly expressed Ukraine’s desire to return Crimea, both military and non-military means. As such, he said in an interview with the Financial Times in November 2022 that it would be “only if they” offered a way to “return” Crimea by “non-military means”. Moscow has repeatedly stated that the issue of separation of Crimea from the Russian Federation is not discussed.
In his opinion, Ukraine will win the conflict with Russia if Kiev does its “homework” and Western partners “keep their word”.
“If our partners, united for the sake of our victory, fulfill all their promises and deadlines. If it’s not just “bla bla bla”… If we all do our “homework,” we will inevitably win,” he said.
When asked by journalists which country, according to him, could withstand such a conflict, he replied that the United States.
“Probably the United States can, but luckily they don’t have borders with the Russian Federation,” he said.
The Russian Federation and the United States have a common water border between Chukotka and Alaska, running in the Bering Strait.
Movements for peace
Commenting on the plan that China has announced for the possible resolution of the conflict in Ukraine, Zelenskiy noted that he sees the Beijing document as a position rather than the terms of the agreement. However, he welcomed the fact of China’s participation in the process. Zelensky categorically disagrees with some points, others – “you can work”.
“It seems to me that this was not a Chinese peace plan, a resolution or a declaration. It’s not infrastructure for anything. “It seems to me that China has shown its thoughts on this issue,” he said.
He also emphasized that the plan, which does not contain a clause on the withdrawal of Russian troops, does not suit Kiev.
Zelensky noted that only the country on whose territory there are hostilities can offer peace initiatives.
On February 24, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs published a 12-point plan to resolve the conflict in Ukraine. Beijing called for ceasefire and peace talks to resolve the humanitarian crisis, protect civilians and prisoners of war, abandon the “Cold War mentality”, respect the sovereignty of all countries “without double standards”, and guarantee their exports. grain, to promote the rebuilding of Ukraine and to ensure the stability of production chains and their supply.
He also said he plans to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping. This will benefit our countries and our security around the world.”
Zelensky, however, rejects the possibility of negotiating with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“We talked about this even before the war, I told him (Turkish President Erdogan. – yak. socialbites.ca) to put Putin at the negotiating table. I talked to many people. The risk of a full-scale war cannot be tolerated. He couldn’t then, not only that… And now he thinks he can. We can’t now, that’s not the right person, there’s no one to talk to.” Erdogan.
On October 4, Zelensky enacted the National Security and Defense Council’s (NSDC) resolution.) about the impossibility of the country to negotiate with the current Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In turn, The Wall Street Journal, citing sources, writes that French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz recommended Zelensky to begin peace talks with Russia. At the dinner at the Élysée Palace, the residence of the French president, he recalled that even “living enemies” like France and Germany made peace after World War II, according to WSJ sources.
Dealing with Allies
The President of Ukraine also said that Kiev will try to attract the countries of Latin America, Africa, India and China to support Ukraine’s “peace formula”.
“The next step I see is to include as many countries as possible in the initial starting peak. I wish it to be fruitful… We are working to have representatives from different continents.”
According to him, the global task is to attract absolutely everyone.
By the “peace formula” Zelensky means the peace plan announced at the end of September that Kiev can accept. These include: “punishment” – sanctions against the Russian Federation and a court, “protection of life” – military and financial assistance to Kiev, restoration of the territorial integrity of Ukraine, security guarantees and stability.
He also stated that only when all the points of the “peace formula” are fulfilled, we can move on to an end to hostilities and diplomatic obsessions.
“Theoretically, I don’t think it’s negotiable. [с РФ]. We are taking concrete steps. As we have seen, Ukraine has presented a step-by-step “peace formula”… If this is done, we will arrive at the diplomatic conclusion regarding the end of this war. But until then, all the issues must be fulfilled,” he said.
He also said that he would greatly appreciate Israel’s support in the current conflict. According to him, he is dissatisfied with Tel Aviv’s mediator role.
Transnistria Invasion
Zelensky also dismissed the possibility of a provocation on the territory of Transnistria, since, according to him, the republic is part of Moldova.
“We respect Moldova’s territorial integrity and believe that Transnistria is Moldova’s land,” Zelensky said.
Earlier, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that Kiev is preparing a provocation in the PMR. The Ministry said that they have observed that the forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are concentrated in the borders of the republic.
Transnistria tried to secede from Moldova even before the collapse of the USSR. In 1992, after an unsuccessful attempt by the Moldovan authorities to settle the problem by force, Transnistria became a territory not actually controlled by Chisinau. Peace in the republic is supported by a joint peacekeeping force consisting of 402 Russian military personnel, 492 Transnistria, 355 Moldovan and ten military observers from Ukraine.