Zelenskiy calls on allies to continue pressure on Russia before talks with US
The Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy urged his allies on Sunday to continue to exert sanctions and pressure on Russia. This comes ahead of the'second day' of talks between Ukrainian?and U.S.?delegations to discuss ways to end a four-year war that was sparked by Russia?s invasion of Ukraine.
The latest talks in Florida, which began on Saturday, did not include any Russian participants. Originally, they were expected to attend the Abu Dhabi negotiations.
The U.S. delegation is led by Steve?Witkoff, a special envoy and Jared Kushner - the son-in law of President Donald Trump.
Zelenskiy said that on Saturday, talks should continue in order to reach an agreement. On Sunday, he called for more action to be taken against Russia's shadow fleet, and to deny Moscow oil revenues.
"Revenues allow Russia to feel impunity, and continue its war." Zelenskiy stated on X that sanctions and pressure must be maintained.
"Russia's Shadow Fleet must not feel secure in European waters, or anywhere else. "Tankers that are part of the war budget must be stopped, and not just allowed to go," he said.
Last week, the French Navy seized a Russian oil tanker that President Emmanuel Macron claimed was part of Russia’s shadow fleet. This is a network used by Russia to export oil despite Western sanction.
The shadow fleet has been growing since the sanctions imposed by the West on Russia to?curtail Moscow's oil revenue. This has kept Russian oil exports flowing.
WAR WINS PEACE
The U.S. peace plan includes a Ukrainian presidential election, along with territorial concessions.
Trump is putting renewed pressure on Zelenskiy to hold a vote, even though his term has expired. Washington wants Kyiv to reach a peace agreement.
Ukrainian law prohibits wartime elections. However, Zelenskiy said that Ukraine was ready to hold democratic elections in the event of a U.S.-negotiated two-month ceasefire. This would give Ukraine time to prepare infrastructure and implement security measures.
Former Ukrainian top general Valeriy Zaluzhnyi is now the ambassador of Britain, and he's seen as a?potential presidential candidate. He said that Ukraine didn't need elections, but rather peace, won by war.
In an article published by Ukrainian outlet NV on Sunday, he said: "What Ukraine?needs... is not time for preparation and holding elections, but a peaceful peace gained through war that will secure a better future for our kids." Reporting by Pavel Polityuk. (Editing by Jane Merriman.)
(source: Reuters)
