Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday reaffirmed his refusal to sign a peace deal with Russia, claiming that Russian leader Vladimir Putin will eventually violate the commitment, citing a 1994 example.
Zelensky recalled the example of the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, in which Ukraine refrained from keeping nuclear weapons belonging to the former Soviet Union in exchange for the Russian state respecting Ukraine’s sovereignty and territory.
According to the Ukrainian president, the signing of the aforementioned treaty on December 5, 28 years ago, “answers many of the current questions” about Russia. returned on Monday to attack the country.
A spate of Russian missiles on Monday hit targets across Ukraine, including power infrastructure, forcing state-owned Ukrenergo to conduct emergency power cuts.
“With the missile strike, Russia marks another anniversary of the signing of the Budapest Memorandum. A document whose fate answers many of today’s questions about Russia. Signing anything with these terrorists will not bring peace,” Zelensky said. in his daily message to the people of the country.
“Giving up security elements to Russia will mean another war… Only liberating our entire country and bringing the murderers to justice can bring peace,” he added.
In the Budapest Memorandum, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States jointly gave security guarantees to Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan in exchange for the renunciation of all Soviet-era nuclear weapons on their territory.
Among other things, the signatories pledged to respect the sovereignty and existing borders of the three former Soviet republics.
The Ukrainian president visits the Donetsk region, close to the frontline
On Tuesday, Zelensky visited the eastern region of Donetsk, near the city of Bakhmut, where Russian troops have recently concentrated their military offensive, the Ukrainian presidency said.
Zelensky appeared in a video on social media wearing a winter coat and standing next to a large sign in the blue and yellow colors of Ukraine with the name of the city of Sloviansk, calling for a moment of silence in honor of fallen Ukrainian soldiers.
“From the bottom of my heart I congratulate you on this great holiday, Armed Forces Day,” the Ukrainian president said.
The Ukrainian leader visited several frontline regions after more than nine months of fighting, including Kherson in the south, recently recaptured by Ukrainian forces.
Sloviansk is about 45 kilometers north of Bakhmut, which has become the center of battle since the fall of Kherson.
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, claiming it was necessary to “denazify” and demilitarize Ukraine for Russia’s security.
The initiative, called a military offensive by Russia, was condemned by the international community at large, which responded by sending arms to Ukraine and imposing political and economic sanctions on Russia.
With AFP
Source: DN
