The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, confirmed that Russia is actively trying to undermine relations between Kyiv and its international partners. At the same time, according to the head of state, Ukraine is ready to decisively counter these actions at various levels.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Strengthening Sanctions and Political Pressure on Russia
Volodymyr Zelensky noted that Ukraine is not an obstacle to diplomacy, while the Russian Federation is a source of war and the main reason for its prolongation. The President emphasized that Russia deserves all appropriate strikes and pressure for its crimes against people, diplomacy, and partners.
“We are closely monitoring and documenting all attempts by the Russians to break our relations with partners. We see which lobbyists Moscow engages, through whom it tries to act, and what internal operations it attempts to initiate in Ukraine and Europe. Our counteraction will be significant – both through special services, and through our intelligence agencies, and through political cooperation with partners, including sanctions,” he stated in his video address.
The President stressed that work has resumed in the U.S. Congress on implementing tougher sanctions against Russia, particularly regarding the export of Russian oil. Zelensky expressed confidence that these measures can significantly impact the situation.
International Negotiations and Security Guarantees for Ukraine
On December 29, a meeting took place in Florida between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, lasting over two hours. After the talks, the leaders held a phone conversation with several European colleagues. According to Zelensky, all key aspects of the peace settlement were discussed during the negotiations in the U.S., and significant results were achieved. The sequence of the next steps was also determined, and teams from both countries are to meet to finalize issues regarding security guarantees.
On January 6-7, delegations from Ukraine and the U.S. held negotiations in Paris. Additionally, on January 6, a meeting of the “Coalition of the Willing” took place, dedicated to the plan for ending the Russian-Ukrainian war and guarantees for Ukraine. Discussions included U.S. Special Representative Steve Vitkoff and Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.
As a result of the “Coalition of the Willing” meeting in Paris, a declaration was released, which provides for reliable security guarantees to ensure sustainable peace in Ukraine. In particular, it mentions the possible deployment of multinational forces on Ukrainian territory after the cessation of hostilities with the support of the U.S.