BALI, Indonesia — Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy connected Tuesday called connected G20 leaders not to connection his state immoderate bid woody that would compromise its independency from Russia, amid precocious renewed interaction betwixt Washington and Moscow implicit the aboriginal of the war.
Zelenskyy appeared astatine the Bali acme via videolink astatine the invitation of the Indonesian hosts, conscionable days aft Ukraine liberated Kherson from invading Russian forces — a feat helium compared to the D-Day landing of allied troops successful Normandy, a cardinal turning constituent of World War II.
“For Ukraine, this liberation cognition of our defence forces is reminiscent of galore battles of the past, which became turning points successful the wars of the past,” Zelenskyy said successful his code to satellite leaders, among them U.S. President Joe Biden — and, according to a Western diplomat, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. “It is like, for example, D-Day — the landing of the allies successful Normandy.”
Pointedly addressing his comments to the “dear G19” — the leaders of the Group of 20, with a snub to Russia — Zelenskyy warned against making Ukraine weaker than it was earlier Russian President Vladimir Putin launched the full-scale penetration successful February.
“I privation this assertive Russian warfare to extremity justly and connected the ground of the U.N. Charter and planetary law,” Zelenskyy said successful his speech, the contented of which was leaked to POLITICO. “Ukraine should not beryllium offered to reason compromises with its conscience, sovereignty, territory and independence. We respect the rules and we are radical of our word.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin was invited to the summit successful Bali but past week decided not to attend, sending Lavrov instead.
In his code connected Tuesday, Zelenskyy rejected immoderate negotiations similar those Kyiv held with Moscow successful erstwhile years, aft Russia invaded and annexed Crimea successful 2014, earlier seizing, via proxies, territory successful the Donbas portion of eastbound Ukraine.
“Apparently, 1 cannot spot Russia’s words, and determination volition beryllium nary Minsk 3, which Russia would interruption instantly aft signing,” Zelenskyy said, referring to the Minsk 1 and 2 agreements, signed successful 2014 and 2015 and mediated by the leaders of France and Germany successful the alleged Normandy Format, which were intended to bring an extremity to the warfare astatine that time.
Zelenskyy’s code to the G20 came connected the aforesaid time Chinese President Xi Jinping asked his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron to enactment toward negotiated bid for Ukraine.
According to the Chinese authorities media Xinhua, Xi “emphasized that China’s presumption connected the Ukrainian situation is wide and consistent, advocating ceasefire, cessation of warfare and bid talks. The planetary assemblage should make conditions for this, and China volition proceed to play a constructive relation successful its ain way.”
Nevertheless, Zelenskyy thanked countries including China for rejecting Russia’s threats to usage atomic weapons.
Slamming the “crazy threats of atomic weapons,” the Ukrainian president added: “There are and cannot beryllium immoderate excuses for atomic blackmail. And I convey you, beloved G19, for making this clear.”
Bill Burns, the caput of the Central Intelligence Agency, met his Russian counterpart Sergei Naryshkin successful Turkey connected Monday and warned Moscow against utilizing atomic weapons, according to the White House.
English (US)