Zelenskyy: Russia's relentless terrorist attacks signal its refusal to negotiate

KATERYNA TYSHCHENKO – SUNDAY, 9 OCTOBER 2022, 22:27

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stressed that Russia’s relentless attacks on civilians in Ukraine signals its refusal to take part in negotiations. He has added that the only negotiations that could draw peace nearer are negotiations about increasing support for Ukraine.

Quote from Zelenskyy: "Today I want to address those in the world who give in to Russian manipulations [concerning] the alleged negotiations. [Those who believe Russia’s claim that] only negotiations can end this brutal Russian terrorist war. Does the terrorist state want peace? Obviously not. It proves that every day and every night."

"[...] the constant terror against the civilian population is an obvious Russian refusal to engage in real negotiations."

Details: President Zelenskyy also mentioned Russia’s attacks on peaceful Ukrainian cities, including the most recent missile strike on Zaporizhzhia.

"When someone wants to negotiate, [they do] not [act like this]. And when someone is a terrorist, that’s exactly [how they act].

Do negotiations really help overcome terror? Now everyone has to answer this question honestly. Terrorists are [to be] neutralised," he said.

Zelenskyy called on the world to recognise Russia a terrorist state, to limit all economic relations with any Russian subjects, and to condemn Russia’s each escalatory step on all levels.

"And Ukraine needs [committed] and sufficient aid. Aid to our people who are targeted by the terrorist state. It is necessary to accelerate the provision of a sufficient number of effective air defence systems to Ukraine. The negotiations on the provision of such air defence systems, the negotiations on increasing other [means of] defence, [on increasing] political and financial support for Ukraine, are the only possible negotiation[s] that can really bring peace closer," the President stressed.

Previously: On 9 October, Vasile Dîncu, Minister of National Defence of Romania, said that negotiations with Russia are the only path to peace in the Russian-Ukrainian war. He believes that "world countries, NATO, and the US" have to hold talks about security guarantees for Ukraine and about a peace deal with Russia because "Ukraine’s politicians currently cannot afford to allow an unfair loss of territory."

Davyd Arakhamia, Head of the Sluha Narodu (Servant of the People, President Zelenskyy’s political party) and former head of Ukraine’s negotiating group in the negotiations with Russia, said that the only negotiations Ukraine is prepared to hold with Western countries are negotiations on joining NATO as soon as possible.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused Ukraine’s Security Service of blowing up the Crimean Bridge. He called the explosion a "terrorist attack" that aimed to destroy Russia’s critical civilian infrastructure. Mykhailo Podoliak, Advisor to the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, said that Putin’s statement was cynical even by Russia’s standards.

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