He said any decisions on the continent’s future security arrangements must be made by European NATO members after the war ends.
“The sequence should be as follows: a ceasefire, an end to the war in Ukraine, and security guarantees for Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said. “There can be no security guarantees in Europe, or for Europe, without Ukraine.”
European leaders have also insisted that the continent’s security must be determined by Europeans rather than dictated by Moscow.
Energy truce and prisoner exchange remain priorities
Zelenskyy said Ukraine’s priorities in negotiations in Abu Dhabi included an energy ceasefire, reopening the Black Sea, prisoner exchanges and preparations for a meeting between national leaders.
He said Russian negotiators had told their Ukrainian counterparts they lacked the authority to decide on an energy truce and that Moscow appeared unwilling to accept one.
However, Zelenskyy said discussions in Moscow involving US negotiators had produced an agreement on a prisoner exchange involving more than 1,000 people on each side. He estimated the total number could reach between 1,200 and 1,300, with the exact figure still being determined.
He also welcomed US support for including European countries directly in future negotiations, saying Britain, France, Germany and Italy had been represented at the Abu Dhabi meetings.
Related
Ukraine questions Starshield restrictions
Zelenskyy also raised concerns over restrictions on SpaceX’s Starshield satellite system in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory, saying they were hampering efforts to intercept Russian drones.
He claimed the system’s speed had been limited to 161 kilometres per hour in occupied areas for five days, preventing Ukrainian forces from intercepting jet-powered Shahed drones until they reached areas where the restrictions did not apply.
Zelenskyy questioned whether the limitations were technical, saying Ukrainian officials believed they had been imposed by SpaceX.
He said the issue needed clarification, particularly after previous assurances from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio that Starshield was more directly under the control of the US government.
Source: www.trtworld.com
