Volodymyr Zelenskyy: The return of peace to Ukraine is my priority

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasizes that the establishment of peace in Ukraine is one of the key tasks he is striving for. That is why the issue of peace was the main one in his current constructive negotiations with French President Emmanuel Macron.

“First of all, it was about returning peace to Ukraine. This is my priority. This is my position – both as a man and as President. This is a topic with which I fall asleep and wake up everyday,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said during the conversation with the journalists in Paris.

“I am convinced that Europe will not be able to feel completely safe as long as Russia pretends that international law simply does not exist. Both France and the rest of our international partners know and understand what hurts for every Ukrainian. Nobody wants Ukraine to become a powder barrel, where Crimea and Donbas are a Primacord,” he added.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that by choosing him as President, the Ukrainian people entrusted him with searching for solutions in the Minsk negotiation process. “The completion of the war and the return of the annexed Ukrainian territories is my major task,” he emphasized.

The Head of State said that during today’s meeting with the President of France, agreements had been reached on the next steps that should contribute to this goal.

“We agreed on the importance of updating cooperation within the Normandy format. Our foreign policy advisers will meet in the near future and prepare the next meeting of the leaders. This is a key issue,” the President said.

As for the conflict in Donbas and the settlement of the situation, Emmanuel Macron supported the position of Volodymyr Zelensky as regards “restoring peace, forcing the guns to go silent and embarking on the path of negotiations”.

“We again want to embark on the path of the Minsk format for Ukraine to get back to peace. I assure that I am ready to support you, Mr. President, in this intention and also in the dialogue with Russia,” the President of France stressed.

“When the moment comes, France is ready to hold a meeting in the Normandy format in order to support the fulfillment of the obligations. But before that we need to have certain gestures, steps in the near future that would confirm the intention to comply with these obligations (Minsk agreements – ed.),” Emmanuel Macron added.