Volodymyr Zelensky is preparing the Ukrainians for the possibility of ceding territories to Russia in the run-up to a future peace negotiation, according to a former French ambassador.
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“In the decisive moments that will occur next year, we must prevent anyone from doubting the resilience of our country,” the Ukrainian president first declared according to the translation presented on the French channel LCI.
“We must act quickly, we must act wisely,” he added. Ukraine will probably have to wait for the end of the Moscow regime in order to restore the full integrity of its country.”
According to the former French ambassador to the United States, Gérard Araud, this latest statement is at the “center” of a speech which aims to put on the table the idea of a negotiation with Russia.
“Basically, he is preparing the Ukrainians for the fact that they are not going to recover the territorial integrity of their country,” he explained during a panel on LCI on Wednesday evening.
“He does not want to definitively give up Donbass and Crimea, but he is preparing Ukrainian public opinion for the fact that it may take 10 years, 20 years, 30 years [pour réintégrer ces territoires à l’Ukraine].»
Mr. Araud also salutes the “realistic” character of Volodymyr Zelensky who is doing everything to adapt to a future where Ukraine would have to fight without help from the United States, which would greatly limit its military capabilities.
In such a context, the avenue of negotiation seems to be considered by the Ukrainian president.
Peace in 24 hours?
Since Donald Trump was elected President of the United States on November 5, pressure has increased on Ukraine.
The president-elect maintained several times during his electoral campaign that he intended to put an end to this conflict in Europe, and that he intended to put an end to it within 24 hours after his inauguration on January 20, 2025.
Although Donald Trump has remained vague on how he would go about helping the two warring countries find a peace agreement, the man who will be his vice president, JD Vance, was more explicit during an interview with Shawn Ryan Show last September.
Mr. Vance raised the idea of freezing the current front in Ukraine and creating a “demilitarized zone” between the two warring states.
«[Cette zone] would be greatly fortified to ensure Russia did not invade again, he assured. Ukraine would keep its independence and Russia would receive a guarantee of neutrality from Ukraine, so it will not join NATO or any kind of alliances with the West.”
“This is roughly what the agreement could look like,” Mr. Vance said.
