The leaders of the countries of the G7the seven most powerful industrialized democracies in the world, reaffirmed this Saturday in a statement their commitment to Ukraine and they assured that “Russia is the only obstacle to peace”when there are almost a thousand days left of the invasion by Moscow that broke out the war.
The declaration, at the initiative of Giorgia MeloniPrime Minister of Italy and country with the current presidency of the G7, reaffirms “the firm support of the G7” to kyiv “for as long as necessary.”
“After a thousand days of war, we recognize the immense suffering suffered by the Ukrainian people.”which “has demonstrated incomparable resilience and determination in defending its land, culture and people,” the statement added.
G7 leaders also claim that “Russia remains the only obstacle to a just and lasting peace.”
Given this, this organization formed by the United States, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Japan, Canada and Italy assure that they “remain committed to imposing serious costs on Russia through sanctions, export controls and other effective measures.”
Ukraine faces its worst winter since the Russian invasion began due to the destruction of 65% of the energy infrastructure in recent months, the UN warned yesterday.
The Russian president, Vladimir Putinhad a telephone conversation on Friday with the German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, and conveyed to him that his June peace proposal for Ukraine still stands. This includes the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Donbas and the south of the country, and kyiv’s refusal to join NATO.
The president of Ukraine, Volodímir Zelenskycriticized the call of Scholz with Putin, considering that it opens “Pandora’s box”.
On Tuesday, November 19, one thousand days after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Zelensky is scheduled to address the European Parliament in Strasbourg. According to what he said this Saturday, the situation in eastern Ukraine is complicated, with slow advance of Russian troops and no possibility of rotation on the front line due to lack of weapons and equipment in the Ukrainian reserve brigades.
Zelensky stated this Saturday that the head of the Kremlin, Vladimir Putin does not want peace if he sits down to negotiate, but rather ends his isolationwhile noting that negotiations with Russia are possible only in conditions of strength on the part of Ukraine.
“I think Putin doesn’t want peace. But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t want to sit at the negotiating table with any of the leaders. For him it is about breaking political isolation. For him it is beneficial. Sit down, talk, and don’t negotiate.”Zelensky declared in an interview on the occasion of the centenary of Ukrainian Radio.
For the head of the Kremlin “it is favorable to negotiate with some kind of surrender conditions on our part,” he said, adding that “no one will give it to him.”
On the other hand, he declared that negotiations with Moscow are possible “as long as Ukraine is not alone with Russia and (Ukraine) is strong.”
“What kind of negotiations can there be with a murderer? If we talk only with Putin, only with the murderer, and we are in the conditions we are in now, not strengthened by some important elements, it is from the outset a loser status for Ukraine. In a weak position, there is nothing to do in these negotiations,” he said.
(With information from EFE)
