Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky commented on the statement made by U.S. Special Envoy Stephen Vitkoff regarding the possibility of a peace agreement concerning five Ukrainian territories. In his speech, he emphasized that all territories of Ukraine are the sovereign property of the Ukrainian people and stressed that only the people of Ukraine have the right to discuss their status.
This is reported by Kyiv24
“Regarding the territory. Ukraine is a sovereign state, and all territories belong to the unitary state of Ukraine. Therefore, once again, only the people of Ukraine can speak about the territories of our state. And you know that for us, it is a red line to recognize any temporarily occupied territories as anything other than Ukrainian. So again, the relevant representatives are discussing matters beyond their competence,” Zelensky said during a press conference with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Odesa.
In response to Vitkoff’s remarks, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte emphasized the importance of peace initiatives initiated by former U.S. President Donald Trump. He noted that these efforts are significant, as heavy fighting continues in Ukraine, cities and infrastructure are being destroyed.
“It is important that Mr. Trump started negotiations because we see that many people are dying, a lot of infrastructure and cities are being destroyed, and there are many attacks. These are very important efforts,” Rutte stressed.
Vitkoff’s Negotiations with Putin and Territorial Issues
U.S. Special Envoy Stephen Vitkoff described his past negotiations with Russian leader Vladimir Putin as “convincing.” According to him, the participants discussed possible steps that could end the ongoing war in Ukraine.
As Vitkoff reported on Fox News on April 14, it concerns a potential signing of a peace agreement that would address the status of five key territories. He did not specify which areas these are, but he mentioned that it involves a complex process with many details.
Russia insists on recognition of its control over the occupied Crimea, as well as parts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions that are under the control of Russian forces.
“This peace agreement concerns the so-called five territories, but there is much more. There are security protocols. Without NATO, NATO Article 5. I mean, you know, there are many details involved. This is a complex situation, based on some truly problematic issues occurring between the two countries,” Vitkoff explained.