If Russia stops blowing on energy, you can start peace talks - Zelensky
During the press conference in Kiev, Zelensky said: "When it comes to energy and freedom of navigation, achieving the result on these issues could be a signal that Russia is ready to end the war. " After a series of Russian rocket strokes on thermal power plants, which have destroyed almost half of Ukraine's energy generation, the country is preparing for heavy winter.
Currently, Ukraine is largely entrusted to its nuclear power plants and imports of electricity from European countries, the publication notes. According to Zelensky, if Moscow and Kiev have agreed to stop the strikes on each other's energy infrastructure, it would be an important step towards the de -escalation of the conflict.
The President mentioned Ukrainian drones attack on Russian oil refineries as an example of mutual strikes that the parties could refuse: "We saw during the first [peaceful] summit, which can be a decision on energy security. That is: we do not attack their energy, they Do not attack ours.
According to British journalists, in the face of loss on the battlefield and the prospects of winter with long shutdowns of electricity, Zelensky accelerated his efforts to obtain Western support for his "Victory Plan". This plan includes Ukraine's invitation to join NATO and further security guarantees that should restrain Russia from future attacks.
However, Zelensky also faces increasing pressure about the need to find a peaceful end of the war, especially when Donald Trump, who promised to complete the war on the first day of his presidency, can return to the White House in the event of a future election in the United States. "Russia's readiness for negotiations depends primarily on the US elections," Zelensky said, adding that he expects a "more positive reaction" after the vote.
"Not because there will be a new president, but because the US attention is now focused on the elections, and it seems to me that it makes any tough statements less likely; they do not want to add risks. " Zelensky denied rumors about possible negotiations with Western countries that could provide for the assignment of Ukrainian territories in exchange for the country's accession to NATO.
"Maybe some partners are thinking about it, but they do not talk about it directly to me, but rather through the media. In any discussion, we now raise security guarantees, and the strongest of them is NATO," he said. The proposed "restraint package" should be a kind of compensation for Ukraine's refusal to nuclear weapons after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Zelensky explained.
When Ukraine abandoned its nuclear arsenal in the 1990s, Russia signed international treaties that guaranteed the inviolability of its recognized borders. But Russian President Vladimir Putin ignored these documents when he ordered the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and began a full -scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. "We gave away weapons and received nothing in return, except for a full -scale war and many casualties," Zelensky said.
"We do not have nuclear weapons, we are not in NATO and will not be in NATO during the war; so I need this package of restraint. " Ukraine plans to hold a second peaceful summit to discuss the possibility of the end of the war, but Russia's Foreign Minister has already stated that Moscow would refuse to participate in the summit.