Hope of a breakthrough in peace negotiation increased after Zelensky met with European leaders and Donald Trump on Monday in Washington
The allies of themselves gather on Tuesday (19) to discuss the result of recent conversations aimed at ending the war with the evidence that Vladimir and could find themselves to negotiate peace. The hopes of an advance increased after the Ukrainian President and the European leaders gathered on Monday in Washington with, who said he also talked by telephone with Russian. The war, which has killed tens of thousands of people, is practically stagnant, despite some recent advances from Russia.
Russian Foreign Minister Serguei Lavrov said on Tuesday that any Kiev Peace Agreement should take into account Moscow’s “security interests”. “Without respect for the security interests of Russia, without full respect for the rights of Russians and Russian speakers living in Ukraine, one cannot talk about long -term agreements,” Lavrov told state TV channel Russia 24.
The minister also mentioned the possibility of a meeting between Putin and Zelensky, who would be the first since the Russian invasion more than three years ago, but stressed that the meeting should be prepared “thoroughly”.
‘Volunteer Coalition’
Almost 30 Kiev allies will meet on Tuesday for a video conferencing to address the advances, the French president, who was in Washington, said on Monday to meet Trump. The meeting of the so -called “volunteer coalition” will “keep informed about what is decided,” Macron told French news channel LCI. “Immediately afterwards, we will start working concretely with Americans.”
The French President and the UK Prime Minister, co-appear the meeting, in which “the next steps” will be discussed to Ukraine, a British government spokesman for AFP told AFP.
Macron suggested that Geneva could receive the Putin-Zelensky meeting, but stated that “it depends on Ukraine” decides whether to make territorial concessions, including parts of the East Donbass region, which remain under their control.
Swiss Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ignazio Cassis, said that his country would offer “immunity” to the Russian President if he travels to “a peace conference,” despite the international arrest warrant against the Kremlin head.
Conversation
Trump, who met last week with Putin in Alaska, wrote on his social truth, after Monday’s meetings that “everyone is very happy with the possibility of peace for Russia and Ukraine.” “After the meetings, I called President Putin and started preparations for a meeting between him and President Zelensky, in a place to be defined,” he added. Trump said a trilateral meeting will later be organized with both leaders.
Germany’s head of government, who was part of the European delegation, said Putin accepted the bilateral meeting over the next two weeks. Zelensky stated that he was “ready” to the meeting.
Despite the alleged advances, Macron warned that “Putin rarely honored his commitments” and accused the Russian of being a “predator” and an “ogre to our doors.” “He has been constantly a destabilizing force. He tries to redefine his borders to increase his power,” he added.
Safety guarantees
Last Friday’s Trump-Putin summit could not get a ceasefire and there was no respite in the daily attacks with Russian drones against Ukraine. Zelensky visited the White House to talk to Trump after the US president pressured him to make concessions to Russia. The Ukrainian leader also met alone with the American agent at the Oval Hall, at his first meeting on site since the heated discussion shown around the world in February.
Zelensky said Monday’s meeting was the “best” he had with Trump so far. Trump, in turn, stated that he discussed safety guarantees for Ukraine and added that Putin accepted them, but dismissed Kiev’s old dream of entering NATO. The guarantees “will be provided by different European countries, coordinated with the United States of America,” he said.
The newspaper Financial Timeswhich cites a document to which he had access, reported that Ukraine had committed to buy $ 100 billion on US -funded US weapons in exchange for Washington security guarantees.
*With information from AFP
Posted by Nicolas Robert
