Washington:
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday that a “just peace” with Russia means no compromises on his country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, but questioned whether there could be such a peace for parents who have lost their children.
At a White House press conference with US President Joe Biden midway through a short visit, Zelenskiy reaffirmed in personal terms his terms for an eventual settlement of the war sparked by the Russian invasion nearly 10 months ago.
“I don’t know what just peace is,” he began by answering a question about what he considered a fair way to end the conflict that has cost tens of thousands of lives, uprooted millions, and destroyed cities and towns. has destroyed. “It’s a very philosophical description. I don’t know if there is a just war.’
“For me as president, just peace is no compromise with regard to the sovereignty, freedom and territorial integrity of my country. The retribution for all the damage inflicted by Russian aggression,” Zelenskiy continued, referring to his demand for reparations from Moscow.
He added that he did not see how there could be a just peace for parents whose children were murdered.
“How could parents have lost their sons and daughters on the front line? So what is only peace for them? Money is nothing,” continued the father of two young children. “Reparations are of no consequence. They (parents) live on vengeance.”
“The longer the war lasts, the longer this aggression lasts. There will be more parents who live for revenge and I know a lot of people like that,” Zelenskiy said.
In response to the same question, Biden said the United States shares with Zelenskiy “exactly the same vision of a free, independent, prosperous and secure Ukraine.”
He and Zelenskiy want the conflict to end, Biden continued, adding that it could end “today if (Russian President Vladimir) Putin had some dignity” and pulled his troops out of Ukraine. “But that’s not going to happen.”
The United States, its allies and others would continue to arm Ukraine, Biden said, “so that if and when President Zelensky is ready to talk to the Russians, he too will be able to succeed, because he would have won on the battlefield. “
The Kremlin said on Wednesday it saw no chance of peace talks with Kiev and would continue what Putin calls a “special military operation” to rid Ukraine of nationalists and protect Russian-speaking communities.
Ukraine and the West say Russia is waging an illegal, unprovoked war of aggression.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by DailyExpertNews staff and is being published from a syndicated feed.)
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