Volodymyr Zelensky, in the next phase of talks to end the war in Ukraine, intends to draw a red line at the most contentious issue on the table: the Russian demand for Ukraine’s sovereign territory. As long as he remains the nation’s president, Zelensky will not agree to give up land in exchange for peace, Ukraine’s chief negotiator, Andriy Yermak, told me today in an exclusive interview.
“Not a single sane person today would sign a document to give up territory,” said Yermak, who has served as Zelensky’s chief of staff, lead negotiator, and closest aide throughout the full-scale war with Russia.
“As long as Zelensky is president, no one should count on us giving up territory. He will not sign away territory,” he told me by telephone from Kyiv. “The constitution prohibits this. Nobody can do that unless they want to go against the Ukrainian constitution and the Ukrainian people.”
Yeah, would have been nice if the word (signature in fact!) of us government had meant anything (we knew russia never lives up to it)
Unfortunately, this is just a stark lesson for any other country out there. Do not give up your nuclear weapons no matter what “guarantees” you get.
The US pressured Ukraine to accept assurances and not guarantees. It matters which kind of guarantees are given.
Isnt the lesson “develop nukes now”?
We knew Russia wouldn’t. I’m just sad that we aren’t holding up our end of the bargain. I suspect we’d have support from other nations.
Sounds like the EU needs a nuclear weapon program. At least one warhead in every EU nation, and at least 10 in every bordering Russia.
And also an autonomous weapon program. Like Project Manhatthan, but for Skynet.