Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived in Washington, DC, ahead of the much-anticipated meeting with United States President Donald Trump and Kyiv’s EU allies set to take place later on Monday.
Zelensky, in his post on X, wrote, “We all share a strong desire to end this war quickly and reliably.” He added that peace and ceasefire must be lasting, “not like it was like on the previous occasions, when Ukraine was forced to give up Crimea and part of the Eastern Donbas in 2014.”
It can be argued that Zelensky’s fears are real, as Russian forces used Russian-speaking Crimea and Donbas to launch a new offensive into the country during the spring of 2022 under the pretext of the military exercises when Putin amassed massive troops and machinery near the Ukraine border.
Also Read: Zelensky could repeat the Oval Office disaster: Report
He slammed the security guarantees offered to Ukraine in 1994, saying they failed. Crimea should have never been surrendered for peace, “just as Ukrainians did not give up Kyiv, Odesa, or Kharkiv after 2022.” He said, “Ukrainians are fighting for their land, for their independence. Now, our soldiers have successes in the Donetsk and Sumy regions.”
The forces of the country will defend the land effectively at all costs, he said, adding that Ukrainians will always be grateful to President Trump, everyone in America, and every partner and ally for their support and invaluable assistance."
“Russia needs to end this war, which it started. I hope our joint strength with America and EU allies will manage to bring an end to this conflict for good and real peace,” he said. Trump and Putin held a three-hour closed-door meeting Friday in Anchorage, Alaska, with Putin saying they reached an "understanding".
Also Read: Trump might urge Zelenskyy to cede Donbas to Russia
Follow us
