President Volodymyr Zelenskyy explained why a simple ceasefire is not possible. Russia has violated ceasefire agreements 25 times since the start of the 2014 invasion. Each time, it blamed Ukrainians for the violation. Ukrainian troops were only responding to the shelling that the enemy started, the Ukrainian president reminded.
Speaking to the press, he stressed that this previous experience made it impossible to trust the Russians, and that a mere ceasefire without guarantees would not mean peace at all. Therefore, it is necessary to clearly define who will monitor Russia's compliance with its commitments.
‘25 times since the first occupation of Crimea and part of the East in 2014, 25 times officially, and this is when it was officially agreed that there would be a ceasefire,’ Zelenskyy stressed.
Speaking about whether the Russians would allow the deployment of a Western contingent in Ukraine, the president said that Russia does not have the strength and the appropriate economy to secure all its lands. Therefore, it is all the more unclear why they need Ukrainian land. Existentially, he believes that this war is not about land, but about the ‘Russian world’, the spread of Russian presence where the Soviet Union used to be. Therefore, Russia does not need a strong Ukraine, but a republic like Belarus: a legally independent country, but in fact a part of Russia where it has total control.
Ukraine is a bone across Russia's throat, Zelenskyy added. ‘It is large both geographically and in terms of population. If Ukraine fails, all countries, including the European Union, that were under Soviet influence will also fall. Therefore, it is necessary not to lift sanctions against Russia, but to strengthen them as much as possible so that the Russian economy, which is already in a difficult situation, is undermined even more. We need to cut off all relations where he circumvents sanctions. Offer countries that help Russia evade sanctions other options so that they are not interested in cooperating with Russia.
‘How can he prohibit partners from deploying a contingent?’ Zelenskyy asked.
- Ukraine has repeatedly emphasised that it considers joining NATO to be the cheapest and most effective guarantee of security. But several member states, primarily the United States, are against it, and some other members of the Alliance depend on its opinion.
- Ukraine agrees to receive other security guarantees instead of NATO, including a peacekeeping contingent. But it believes that the United States should also be part of the guarantees. If not with military forces, then with their support, especially in air defence.