Today, February 25, the forum "Ukraine. Year 2024" with the participation of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi. Following the results of the forum, the head of state gave a press conference.
EliteExpert collected the main statements of Zelenskyi.
The President called 2024 very important in the context of the further struggle against Russia. Volodymyr Zelensky believes that significant events will take place this year that will affect the final development of the situation.
About the first peace summit
The President stated that Ukraine does not want any formats of peace negotiations and peace formulas to be imposed on it.
"The initiative can only come from Ukraine... And today we have come to the moment of the first summit (of peace, — ed.). The first summit, the inaugural one, will be held, I hope, in the spring, we cannot lose the diplomatic initiative, it will be in Switzerland. The second summit, we want it to be, perhaps, not on the European continent, but on another one... I think that this information will definitely appear in the coming weeks and months." he noted.
According to him, a plan will be developed at the first summit, and then the countries will technically deal with each crisis that the war has provoked. And they will prepare a document, as was the case with the grain initiative. That is, not directly with Russia.
"This does not mean that Russia will accept this document. But in any case, we say that this document will be presented by the negotiators in one or another format to the Russian side. And we will be ready for the second summit, for appropriate diplomatic steps regarding a just peace and ending the war." added Zelensky.
France will provide Ukraine with critical equipment for the front
"If we talk about artillery, Emmanuel (Macron, the president of France - ed.) knows that we are grateful for the Caesar artillery systems, it works well. We have formed an artillery coalition and we expect several dozen systems from our French partners. This is very important, it will strengthen our country." - said the head of state.
Zelensky added that during Macron's visit, France will provide "a few more things, but we will know about them later."
It will be difficult for Ukraine in March-April, - the president
"It will be difficult for us in the coming months, because there are fluctuations in the USA. It will be difficult in March-April, the Russian Federation will prepare an offensive at the beginning of summer or at the end of May. We will prepare for their battle, the elections in the USA will be a turning point and we will understand what will happen," — Zelensky said.
A new counteroffensive at the front.
According to the president, the military command has a clear plan of action, but he cannot divulge the details.
Zelenskyi emphasized that for the past counteroffensive, the Armed Forces had a combat-capable "fist", but to this day, four brigades remain "bare" because they did not wait for weapons from the allies.
About the lines of defense
Zelenskyi noted that Oleksandr Syrskyi and Rustem Umerov will be responsible for the new lines of defense. And after the audit, it will be clear where we have weak points.
"By the way, as far as I know, everything was done at the highest level in the Kupyansk direction. And he sets an example for other directions." he added.
About the involvement of foreign armies
Ukraine is not negotiating with partners regarding the use of their armies on the territory of Ukraine.
"We are not negotiating with our partners regarding the use of their armies on the territory of Ukraine, if we are in NATO, this is the most powerful guarantee for us, so we will use the 5th amendment accordingly if this happens. But, as we can see, Russia did not attack any NATO country." - said the head of state.
About Ukraine's invitation to NATO
Ukraine's invitation to NATO, which our country is counting on at the next summit in Washington, depends on key countries.
"I don't want to play with words. Today, this decision depends on the USA and Germany, this is a fact. I don't see any risks in inviting Ukraine to NATO... The risks that sound, I believe, are related to the inadequacy of Putin's reaction. In this step, I think there are no risks or I don't know something. If we are not invited, then we will not be invited." he added.
About Taurus missiles
It is very important for Ukraine to receive the German Taurus air defense missiles.
"I will say this: the USA, and then Germany, and so on in everything. I am not saying that the chancellor depends on the president, but that the procedure has always been this way. If the USA took a step forward, then we could set them as an example and continue to work (with others, ed.). That's all. Since I am in a positive mood about the USA, I believe that we will have a result everywhere," — Zelensky emphasized.
About Mirage 2000 fighters
The president also said that some partners are afraid of Ukraine's defeat in the war. And he confirmed that Ukraine is negotiating the supply of French Mirage 2000 fighters.
"Yes, we were talking about airplanes." he said shortly.
About the possible reduction of ministries
According to him, it is possible that the number of ministries will be reduced.
"If the deficit (of money, — ed.) will continue, we will do everything so that the infrastructure, and this is not only about the Cabinet of Ministers, so that the infrastructure of our state decreases. There is such a format, we are prepared for it. Reducing the number of ministries and ministers. I think the indicator will be the understanding of what we will have in the spring. We will understand in a month or two," — he noted.
Zelenskyi explained why the draft law on mobilization should be changed
"The changes to the law on mobilization are related to the fact that the details have not been resolved: the issue of conscripts, rotations, vacations, how long to serve, training. The parameters are changing because the law existed before the war and does not correspond to the realities of the war." said the guarantor.
What will happen if the US Congress does not support the package worth billions of dollars
Answering the question of what will happen if Ukraine does not receive a positive decision from Congress within a month, Zelensky reminded that this is not a question of financial reserves, but of weapons.
"You understand what the result will be. We'll just be weakened on the battlefield, I'm here I can't say what will happen. I don't have a reserve, we have weapons and what we have, we will look for other opportunities to buy weapons... to put pressure on partners... This is a matter of specific packages of weapons. The Patriot system costs $1,5 billion, but you can't buy it without the United States. That's the answer. Is it possible to strengthen air defense without the United States? No, there are no such systems in the world. What is an alternative in the world is in small quantities, very much. - he said.
About the inability of Europe to replace supplies from the USA
Zelensky is not sure that if the US stops military supplies, Europe is able to replace them.
"Can Germany give us its air defense systems? I don't know, I'm not sure that German society is ready to give us all air defense. Regarding long-range weapons, there is another issue, we will work... As for Italy... I am grateful to Prime Minister Georgia Maloney... I know in detail what is in Italy... But not everything depends on Italy, we are talking about the countries of the "Big Seven", other countries , which can provide, maybe not the Patriot complexes, but there are SAMP-T, IRIS-T, HAWK, there are a lot of things in different countries. But whether this will be enough, I cannot say. But it would be good." said the president.
Zelenskyi added that Europe is changing and has started to increase the production of ammunition for Ukraine. Although the main issue is not ammunition, but the unpreparedness of European societies for war with Russia.
What will depend on the format of the end of the war
The President of Ukraine said that the third year of the war in Ukraine is a turning point. This is a year of elections, defocusing, everything at once, challenges from outside, inside, etc.
"Some people talk about it, some are silent about it. This is a turning point year. And that's why we need both courage and resilience to survive. I think the format of the end of the war will depend on this year," — the president noted.
About the reason for the failure of the counteroffensive
The Ukrainian counteroffensive plan last year was known in Moscow even before it began.
"Our counteroffensive plan last year was on the table in the Kremlin before the start of this offensive. Therefore, the fewer people know about our plans, the faster there will be a victory and an unexpected result for Russia on the battlefield." said Zelensky.
The head of state did not specify who exactly "leaked" the counteroffensive plan to the Russians.
Zelenskyi said about the strong pressure of the Russians on one of the directions on the front
Currently, the Russian army is exerting strong pressure on the Kharkiv direction. In order to dislodge the occupiers, the Armed Forces should launch a counteroffensive.
"I will say frankly: the intensity of artillery use was about 1 to 12 at the end of the year (2023 — Ed.). Now we have 1 to 7. This is a reduction in their numerical advantage, but nevertheless the advantage is significant. We need to switch to counteroffensive operations, where we used to go — 1 to 1,5, or 1 to 2. Then we will be able to push back the Russians," — the head of state emphasized.
According to him, there is no such amount yet.
"We can stand, or we will lose 100 meters, 50 meters... All this is important for us, but strategically it is more important not to lose people." Zelensky added.
Zelensky responded to criticisms about his illegitimacy as president
The topic of the illegitimacy of Volodymyr Zelensky as the President of Ukraine, raised by some politicians in the West and in Ukraine after May 2024, is the program of the Russian Federation.
"Regarding legitimacy, this is not the opinion of Western partners or someone inside Ukraine, this is the narrative and program of the Russian Federation. It is clear to everyone that this is a Russian program. Everyone is against it. Emmanuel Macron from the G7 will be here soon, he will answer. Not only that it doesn't sound very fun, some of them even tell me the names of those inside us who raise this narrative. Bad idea. I treat this as a treasonous position towards Ukraine." - he said.
Zelensky emphasized that this topic is a specific program.
"There is a document that confirms this. Program of the Russian Federation. I know that some journalists in the USA also have it. he added.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyi spoke about his meeting with the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin in Paris in December 2019.
"We had a long conversation in different tones. I told him that the Minsk agreements will not work, because the topic of the withdrawal of troops along the contact line is not working... I showed: look how long it took us to withdraw. I showed him that we will be withdrawing for 20 years, which means that we will be in a state of frozen conflict for 20 years, which indicates that the war is not over. That's what we talked about. They talked about it for a long time, traded," — answered the president.
About negotiations with Putin
Zelensky was asked whether Ukraine would lose the war and whether it might be time to talk to Vladimir Putin, given that there will be elections in the United States in November and perhaps there will be a change in leadership. The president doubts that it is possible to talk to a "deaf person".
"This is a legal and diplomatic issue. We will offer a platform where he can agree that he lost the war and that it was a big mistake... Will Ukraine lose this war? I'm sure not. The most difficult was February 24 two years ago. At least we have no alternative not to win, no possibility of losing. What if Ukraine loses? There will be no us, there will be no existence, therefore such an ending does not suit us." he noted.
According to him, it depends on the Western partners whether Ukraine will win or lose, with how many victims. If Ukraine is strong, Putin's daily steps back will definitely have a big impact on his society.
"Then he will think about internal security. If you look at the messages that Putin gives, today he operates with plans and figures and talks about plans for 2030. He sees himself until 2030, and we would like to end him earlier." added Zelensky.
Will Zelensky pick up the phone if Putin calls him
The head of state was asked whether he would pick up the phone if, for example, the head of the Kremlin called him at night.
"He won't call me, he doesn't have a mobile phone. And I do not use the telegraph of 1917. He won't call me, he doesn't want to end this war. Today it is like that." - emphasized the president.
According to Zelenskyi, it is important to weaken the enemy's army on the battlefield and the political isolation of the Russian Federation in the world with sanctions.
"It's all about making Putin poor. For him, money is number one. If you hear his messages, everything is about money. It ensures the safety of this money, even frozen assets abroad. I think this is his weak point." Zelensky added.
Blockade of the border with Poland
The President of Ukraine considers the blocking of the border by Polish farmers to be a political issue and promised to protect Ukrainian business if steps are not taken to solve it.
"Ukraine must be supported now, not "until the end", because the end can be quick," — said Zelensky, commenting on the situation on the border with Poland, which was first blocked by Polish transporters, and now by farmers.
He recalled that he had meetings with the President of Poland Andrzej Duda and the Prime Minister of the country Donald Tusk on this matter.
"Since April [2023], I have been saying that this is a political issue... I would very much like politicians to do so, so that this border is between our peoples," — emphasized the Ukrainian president.
He emphasized that "using Ukraine" in the political confrontation in Poland is unfair.
"It is important for us to preserve the union with Poland, [but] if steps [to unblock the border] are not found, we will protect our business," — Zelensky warned.
Zelensky noted that it was clear from April 2023 that this is a political story and today the European Commission confirms it. According to him, an internal struggle continues in Poland. The Ukrainian people are grateful to Polish society, which supports our state.
About the grain corridor
Currently, Ukraine is not looking for an alternative to the grain corridor, but is in favor of expanding the initiative.
"As I told President Erdogan, we are in favor of expanding these corridors. We would be grateful if more would appear, but we are not looking for an alternative to what is currently working. I believe that Erdogan can help us with Nikolaev, we talked about opening the sea. We know that Turkey discussed the possibilities of free navigation in the Black Sea with the UN Secretary General. We believe that this issue can be resolved at the first inaugural World Summit. I really hope that President Erdogan will be there," — he noted.
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