President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy commented on the talks between the United States and Russia and said he was not going to accept any ultimatums. The Ukrainian leader also canceled his visit to Saudi Arabia scheduled for tomorrow.
Volodymyr Zelenskiy said this in a statement to the media after a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Zelenskyy recalled how in 2022, at the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion, world powers began to help Ukraine and Moscow put forward its ultimatums. At that time, the occupiers demanded a reduction in the size of the Armed Forces and the recognition of the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine as Russian. Moscow also sought to install a pro-Kremlin leadership in Kyiv so that “it would be completely in Putin’s vertical.”
“And I have the impression that there are some negotiations going on now, and they are taking place with the same mood, but they are taking place between representatives of Russia and representatives of the United States of America. Again, about Ukraine and without Ukraine. I wonder, if we did not go for all these ultimatums at the most difficult moment, why do we have the feeling that Ukraine will do it now. We did not have any agreements with the Russians during the meeting in Turkey. As President of Ukraine, I did not guarantee anything to anyone and did not confirm anything to anyone. Moreover, I was not going to give in to Russia’s ultimatums and I am not going to,” Zelenskyy commented.
The president also canceled his visit to Saudi Arabia tomorrow amid Russian-American talks. The visit has been tentatively postponed to March 10.
“We cannot make decisions without Ukraine on how to end the war in Ukraine. For whatever reason, we were not invited to this Russian-American meeting in Saudi Arabia. It was a surprise for us. As well as for many,” Zelenskyy emphasized.