“We have to do our job, let’s not think about Russia, let’s do what we have to do. For now, Russia and its leaders are not ready for a just peace. This is a fact,” said the president.
Russia can negotiate peace “tomorrow, if it withdraws from our territory”, insisted Mr. Zelensky, while Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was ready for talks.
Negotiations to end the war in Ukraine: Putin has given his conditions
However, he set unacceptable conditions for kyiv, which would amount to a surrender and abandonment of territories recognized as Ukrainian by the international community.
Mr. Zelensky also affirmed that Ukraine was “not the enemy” of China, in response to a question about its relations with Beijing.
China is an ally of Russia and has been accused of contributing to the Russian war effort by supplying components. Beijing chose not to attend this weekend’s peace summit because Moscow was absent.
“China could help us,” stressed Mr. Zelensky.
Despite the resumption of American military aid, blocked for many months, and the commitments made by other allies, particularly Europeans, Volodymyr Zelensky believes that the current volumes are not sufficient to win the war.
“There is aid. There are large packages. Is it enough to win? No. Is it coming late? Yes,” Mr. Zelensky said.
