Zelensky defends Ukraine's borders, rejects territorial trade
- This is our goal, our task – to guarantee Ukraine a lasting peace and security. This is only possible under international law and without any trade of sovereignty or territories, says Volodymyr Zelensky. The President of Ukraine addressed reports suggesting the possibility of Kyiv relinquishing control over occupied territories in exchange for NATO membership for the remaining part of Ukraine.
Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine has included its proposal for ending the war in what it calls the "Victory Plan," which is being presented to Western allies.
"Everything included in the [Victory] Plan is absolutely realistic for our partners. The world has this resource, the resource of strengthening, which allows us to move forward according to the Peace Formula. This is our goal, our task – to guarantee Ukraine a lasting peace and security," Zelensky declared.
He reiterated that "this is only possible under international law and without any trade of sovereignty or territories, exactly as defined by the Peace Formula," exactly as the "peace formula" envisions, he added.
The Ukrainian "peace formula" includes, among other aspects, the complete removal of Russian armed forces from Ukraine's territory within the borders of 1991. This includes Crimea, which is considered an occupied territory.
- Ukraine needs a real, just peace and guaranteed protection from war - Zelensky stated.
Will they trade land for NATO? Ukraine has a different plan
"Ukraine’s new strategy — presented by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to US leaders last week — is to ask its allies to strengthen its hand, militarily and diplomatically, to bring Russia to the negotiating table... The West German model for Ukraine has been discussed in foreign policy circles for more than 18 months," writes the British newspaper 'Financial Times' on Saturday.
According to the 'FT', Western diplomats and increasingly Ukrainian officials have come round to the view that meaningful security guarantees could form the basis of a negotiated settlement in which Russian retains de facto, but not de jure, control of all or part of the Ukrainian territory it currently occupies.
Also on Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that he plans to present his "Victory Plan" at a contact group meeting in the Ramstein format, set to take place on October 12 in Germany. According to the Ukrainian president, these are "clear, concrete steps towards a just end to the war."
