Ukraine's Zelensky insists on balanced peace, rejecting any 'rewards' for Putin
In a bold move on Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for an end to the war with Russia, but not as a surrender. He made it crystal clear that any resolution shouldn't involve "rewards" for Vladimir Putin, with a firm stance against territorial concessions.
Zelensky's stern words were shared at a summit organized by Poland via videoconference. His comments came at a time when reports surfaced suggesting the United States had suggested freezing the front lines and accepting Russian control of the Crimean peninsula, a demand Zelensky has flatly refused.
However, US President Donald Trump had said on Sunday that he believed Zelensky might concede the Black Sea peninsula as part of a settlement. Russia, on the other hand, has been persistent in its demands to keep the territory it occupies in southern and eastern Ukraine, and even push for more.
With nearly 20% of Ukraine's territory under Moscow's control, the ongoing conflict has claimed countless lives. Yet, it seems there's no end in sight to this grinding assault.
In the backdrop of this stalemate, North Korea has offered some unexpected praise, referring to Russian soldiers as "heroes."
Interestingly, the conflict between Ukraine and Russia hasn't shown any signs of progress towards a negotiated settlement regarding Crimea or other occupied territories. Russia continues to assert maximalist demands, while Ukraine vehemently refuses to entertain capitulation terms. Recent developments suggest that Russian forces might be making strategic advances in areas like Chasiv Yar (Donetsk Oblast) and Kursk Oblast, consolidating their positions while Ukrainian forces maintain defensive operations.
Politically, the situation remains complex. Recent constitutional amendments in Russia reinforce its claims of annexation, while Ukraine insists on restoring its territorial integrity, including Crimea. The Trump administration's rumored peace framework, which involves mutual concessions, appears to be at odds with Russia's unilateral demands. At present, there are no credible negotiations taking place as Russia refuses to offer concessions and Ukraine rejects terms that amount to surrender. The absence of active ceasefires underscores the ongoing combat reality.
During the videoconference summit organized by Poland, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky harshly criticized any suggestion of conceding the Black Sea peninsula, confirming his steadfast refusal to accept Russian control of Crimea. This stance directly contradicts recent statements made by US President Donald Trump, who believes Zelensky might agree to such a concession as part of a settlement. Meanwhile, Russia persists in demanding control over territories it occupies in southern and eastern Ukraine, pushing for even more. The conflict, marked by a stalemate and recurring violence, has yet to show any signs of progress toward a negotiated settlement regarding Crimea or other occupied territories.
