«We need strong mediators»: Zelenskyy assesses progress of talks with Russia

Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Archive photo: Office of the President

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that it is currently impossible to negotiate with the Russian side on territorial integrity, as the Russian delegation does not have the appropriate mandate. And to guarantee the implementation of possible agreements, he said, strong international mediators are needed.

He expressed this opinion in an interview with the Hungarian media outlet Válasz Online, published on 10 June.

«Our memorandum is the basis for negotiations. Based on this, our delegation has a mandate to discuss humanitarian issues — the issue of prisoners of war and abducted children — or a ceasefire. However, they do not have the authority to discuss the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine,» the president said.

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Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraine does not recognise Russian jurisdiction over the occupied territories. At the same time, he said, if real security guarantees are received that will stop the war, then «we will have time to decide on territorial issues. Diplomatically, not with weapons».

The President is convinced that the Russian side deliberately offered an ultimatum memorandum, knowing that Kyiv would not accept it.

«They (Russians, — note) even told our delegation: we know that our memorandum is an ultimatum, and you will not accept it. Thus, the question is not about the quality of the Istanbul format, but about what to do with the lies of the Russians. That is why we need strong mediators: so that the Russians cannot abandon the agreements reached in the negotiations,» Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

He criticised the role of the United States as a potential mediator, pointing out that the Americans had actually withdrawn from the negotiation process after pressure from the Kremlin.

«The Russians told them not to sit at the table and they just left. Why? Because of their soft policy towards Russia,» Zelenskyy said.

Zelenskyy called on international partners to focus not on the economic losses from sanctions, but on the reality of war and human casualties.

To recap, Ukraine and Russia have already held two rounds of peace talks in Istanbul. During them, they agreed to exchange prisoners and bodies of the dead.