As of: 03/08/2022 10:49 p.m
Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy has formulated possible concessions to Moscow. His advisor Zhovkva made the daily topics clear: One could talk about Ukraine’s neutrality – under certain conditions.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has apparently given up on the dream of joining NATO quickly. In a US interview he saidhis attitude to this had “softened some time ago”, since NATO was apparently not ready “to accept Ukraine”. They are also ready to talk about the status of the separatist areas of Luhansk and Donetsk in eastern Ukraine.
“We expect a security guarantee of Ukrainian sovereignty”: Ihor Zhovkva, Ukrainian Presidential Security Adviser, on Ukraine’s possible acceptance of neutral status
daily topics 10:40 p.m., March 8, 2022
Zelenskyy’s security adviser Igor Zhovka confirmed in daily topics-Interview the readiness of Ukraine to talk about a neutrality. However, he named two conditions for negotiations that would have to be met beforehand: the withdrawal of Russian troops and a ceasefire. The Ukrainian side needs strict guarantees so that “a situation like this can never occur again”.
Tougher sanctions demanded by the federal government
This doesn’t just apply to Ukraine, Zhovka warned. In Germany, people should be clear: “If we can’t stop the Russian aggressors here, then Russia won’t stop at the Ukrainian borders.” Russia would invade other countries – the Baltic States or even Poland. That is why Germany must support Ukraine – through active actions.
Zhovkva explicitly called on the federal government to tighten its sanctions against Moscow: “In Germany, you are the economic motor of the EU. In this respect, we also expect Germany to take a leading role in sanctions against Russia. We ask for an embargo on Russian gas and Russian oil and that all accounts be frozen in German banks. We demand that goods belonging to Russians be confiscated. And SWIFT sanctions should be extended to all Russian banks.”
conflicting parties as a source
In the current situation, information on the course of the war, shelling and casualties provided by official bodies of the Russian and Ukrainian conflict parties cannot be directly checked by an independent body.
Willpower of the Ukrainian army remains strong
Regarding the situation in Kyiv, he said that it was very difficult there, including around the city. Many people tried to leave the outskirts and their small towns nearby because of the Russian bombing. It is very important for Ukraine that the Russians do not take Kyiv. “That would be very symbolic for them,” says Zhovka.
Regarding the progress of the Russian army, he said that they wanted to encircle Kyiv on the first day. “They wanted a blitzkrieg in the first two days, but that didn’t happen. None of the major cities have been taken by the Russians so far.” The resistance of the Ukrainians is too great, the forces and willpower of the Ukrainian army too strong. “Russian forces are failing, Ukraine will not be taken,” said Zhovka.