We need peace on our terms – Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the importance of sanctions pressure and meeting in the Normandy format
“It doesn't matter how that football match ended. It is important that the picture, which seven years ago was a reality, looks fantastic today,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted.
During his speech at the Unity Forum in Mariupol, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed that the end of the war and the return of the Ukrainian territories were possible due to diplomacy and sanctions pressure. And on this path, the Minsk process and the meeting of state leaders in the Normandy format are of great importance.
“We need peace on our terms? To do this, the country must have a strong position. It is possible if sanctions are maintained. That is why the Minsk process and the meeting in the Normandy format are so important today. It must happen. And we have to resolve all the issues not by phone but looking into each other’s eyes. To end the war and return our Ukrainian territories,” the Head of State emphasized.
At the beginning of his speech, the President recalled the events of summer 2012, when the football team of Ukraine played a match within Euro 2012 at the Donbas Arena in Donetsk. At that time our fans in yellow and blue T-shirts with Ukrainian flag were freely walking through the streets of Donetsk, cheering for their team.
“It doesn’t matter how that football match ended. It is important that the picture, which seven years ago was a reality, looks fantastic today,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted.
That is why, according to him, the purpose of today’s forum is to find the answers to the most difficult and acute questions that Ukraine has to face – how to return the occupied Donbas and Crimea.
“Undoubtedly, the war in eastern Ukraine and the annexation of Crimea as a result of Russian aggression are the biggest challenges of our country in the 21st century. But the purpose of this forum is not to discuss the defense and security strategies. We will not say the obvious things today – the need for a strong and combat capable army to protect sovereignty and independence. It is an axiom,” the Head of State emphasized.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed that he had repeatedly underscored the possibility of ending the war and returning all Ukrainian territories in one and only way – through diplomacy and sanctions pressure.
According to him, until then, it is necessary to build a successful and prosperous country. And for this end, the state must not lose the most important thing – the consciousness of Ukrainian citizens in the occupied territories.
Source: Turkish Minute
