Update(12:38ET): President Zelensky’s 14-hour old ABC News interview (which we detailed hours ago below) is finally getting widespread distribution and is being repackaged as a significant nod to Moscow on what’s been Putin’s core issue he cited as justification for launching the war:
In another apparent nod aimed at placating Moscow, Zelensky said he is open to “compromise” on the status of two breakaway pro-Russian territories that President Vladimir Putin recognized as independent just before unleashing the invasion on February 24.
“I have cooled down regarding this question a long time ago after we understood that …NATO is not prepared to accept Ukraine,” Zelensky said in an interview aired Monday night on ABC News.
“The alliance is afraid of controversial things, and confrontation with Russia,” the president added.
Looks like Ukraine is finally ready to cut a deal. Zelensky gave up on the NATO fantasy and his top adviser is speaking openly about long term security guarantees.
— Jordan Schachtel @ dossier.substack.com (@JordanSchachtel) March 8, 2022
“I’m talking about security guarantees,” Zelensky said, explaining that Ukraine is now open for dialogue on these central Russian security demands in order to stop the war.
Please end this through diplomacy! https://t.co/WIo6tDv0wW
— Jeffrey A Tucker (@jeffreyatucker) March 8, 2022
For those who missed it when it first came out 14 hours ago, the interview is here:
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Update(10:51ET): Yesterday ahead of what was the third round of Russia-Ukraine attempts to establish a ceasefire, which reportedly didn’t result in much progress, the Kremlin issued updated demands saying it would halt all military operations if Ukraine agreed to the following: recognize Russian sovereignty over Crimea, acknowledged the statehood of Donetsk and Luhansk, and importantly to update the Ukrainian constitution barring entry into external military alliances (namely NATO).
In fresh remarks given to ABC News, President Zelensky hinted that Kiev could be willing to compromise on some of these proposals. He said:
“I’m talking about security guarantees. I think items regarding temporarily occupied territories and unrecognized republics that have not been recognized by anyone but Russia, these pseudo-republics. But we can discuss and find the compromise on how these territories will live on. What is important to me is how the people in those territories are going to live who want to be part of Ukraine.”
BREAKING: Ukraine is ready for negotiations with the Russian Federation on key points, but wants to receive a “clear and specific, legally binding set” of guarantees for its security in a situation where NATO has openly announced that it will not accept Ukraine.
— ASB News / MILITARY〽️ (@ASBMilitary) March 8, 2022
However, he reaffirmed in the interview that Ukraine is not ready to compromise based on “ultimatums”. Previously Zelensky said he wouldn’t negotiate based on a “gun at this head” – and so far the talks have been focused on establishing local pauses in fighting for the sake of civilian evacuations of cities. “I’m ready for dialogue, we’re not ready for capitulation,” he said.
Continue Reading: zerohedge.com
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