I’m not going to give in to Russia’s ultimatums - Zelenskyy on US-Russia talks
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine would never accept Russia's ultimatums.
The head of state said this during a conversation with the community in Ankara, Interfax-Ukraine reports, Censor.NET informs.
The President noted that the talks between Russia and the United States in Saudi Arabia are about Ukraine without Ukraine's participation.
According to him, when, at the beginning of the full-scale invasion, various countries began to provide assistance to Ukraine in various amounts, at that moment Russia set an ultimatum, including a reduction in the number of the Armed Forces and the recognition of the occupied territories of Ukraine as Russian territories. Also, according to the head of state, the Russians wanted to install a pro-Russian government in Ukraine, "so that it would be completely in Putin's vertical."
"And I have the impression that some negotiations are taking place 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. About Ukraine, again about Ukraine, and without Ukraine. I wonder if we didn't go for all these ultimatums at the most difficult moment, why do we have the feeling that Ukraine will do it now," Zelenskyy said.
The head of state added that "there were no agreements during the occupation of Kyiv region by Russians, no agreements during the meeting in Belarus and in Turkey with Russians."
"As president of Ukraine, I did not guarantee anything to anyone, 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 emphasized.
Meeting in Saudi Arabia
As a reminder, on February 12, 2025, Trump said that his meeting with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin would likely take place in Saudi Arabia.
Trump also said that a meeting between representatives of Ukraine, the United States, and Russia would take place in Saudi Arabia next week.
On February 14, the Saudi Foreign Ministry announced that the Kingdom was ready to host a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.
The meeting of the US and Russian delegations in Saudi Arabia will take place on February 18, Axios reports. On February 17, Censor.NET reported that Lavrov and Ushakov were flying to Saudi Arabia for talks with US representatives.
