Zelinski asks Russia to drop “unnecessary” demands before peace talks

Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukrainian and American officials will seek peace talks in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia next Monday, after the Kremlin confirmed the US-Russia talks there on the same day.

Ukraine leader said that Russian President Vladimir Putin “should stop submitting unnecessary demands that they are only prolonging the war.” Moscow demands include a full end for Ukraine’s military assistance.

Zelinski also warned of this Take NATO membership in Ukraine from the table – Something said by Putin was not negotiable for peace – It would be a “big gift for Russia.”

The White House’s allegations also refused that he had discussed the abdication of the ownership of nuclear power plants in Ukraine to the United States during a call with President Donald Trump.

The last talks come as the United States is trying to mediate the ceasefire between the two countries after more than three years of fighting.

Zelensky and Putin agreed to a ceasefire in principle during talks with the United States – but one has not yet been achieved due to the conflicting conditions.

The Russian leader recently agreed to Stop air strikes on energy infrastructure But these strikes on both sides continued.

Zelinski said that the Ukrainian delegation will deliver the United States a list of infrastructure facilities that it wants to protect from Russian strikes on Monday talks.

He was asked about the White House promoting Possible US property of nuclear power plants in Ukraine At a joint press conference with Prime Minister Norway Jonas Joshore Store in Oslo, Zellinski was completely excluded.

He said that the two discussed the Zaporizhia power plant – which is currently under Russian control – in its phone call to Trump, but stressed that “all nuclear power plants belong to the people of Ukraine.”

However, he said it is open to the United States taking the factory from Russia to invest or update.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said earlier that the ownership of the United States “will be the best protection of this infrastructure.”

When asked whether he was ready to make regional concessions to Russia, especially the Crimea, which has been in Russian hands since 2014, Zelinski said: “This is a Ukrainian peninsula,” adding that the Crimea “is” an integral part “in his country.

Crimea is internationally recognized as part of Ukraine, despite the occupation of Russia and the involvement.

When asked about the form of a ceasefire, Zelinski said that the first stage should be the ceasefire through the ground and the sea, as Ukraine sees that this is the only way to stop the Russian aggression.

Trump managed to extract an agreement to cease fire infrastructure – which Russia has been repeatedly targeted – from Putin in a call on Tuesday, but nothing more.

The Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Alexander Grushko, said earlier this week that Moscow will seek guarantees that NATO will exclude Ukraine from membership and that Ukraine will remain neutral in any peace deal.

US Defense Minister Beit Higseth Reduce the possibility From Ukraine joins the military alliance, saying it is “not a realistic result of the settlement of negotiation.”

Meanwhile, the war – which started with the full invasion of Russia in 2022. The strikes were killed overnightly in Ukraine, while Ukrainian drone attacks were wounded 10 and set fire to Russia.

Speaking to the leaders of the European Union via the video link at a meeting in Brussels, Zelinski reiterated calls for military aid to continue, and asked European leaders at least 5 billion euros (4.18 billion pounds) for artillery shells “as soon as possible”, and said that the continuous support of Ukraine was “decisive”.

He also said that the European Union should participate in peace talks, and urged Europe not to “reduce pressure on Russia on the war.”

After Trump’s engagement and Zelinski involved A public screaming match in the Oval Office on the WarThe White House announced a stop of military aid to Ukraine.

A stand from a major military supporter in Ukraine was It was raised after a few days After talks between the United States and Ukraine, which also witnessed the support of the ceasefire for 30 days.

Meanwhile, the UK Prime Minister, Sir Kerr Starmer, said that any peace deal “will not be permanent” unless there are “security arrangements in place”, after a “alliance from those wishing” to impose peace in Ukraine after a deal.

His comments came during a visit to a military base in London, after a closed meeting was held with senior military officers of more than 20 countries in the coalition plans.

Sir Kiir said that the United Kingdom and its allies move from “political momentum” to “military planning”, which he said “must be done now” before agreeing on a deal.

He said: “It is very important to do this work because we know one thing certain, and it is a deal without anything behind it is something that Putin will violate.

“We know this because it happened before. I am completely clear in my mind it will happen again.”