Yesterday at 18:58
February 23, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held a joint press conference with his Lithuanian counterpart Gitanas Nauseda and Poland’s leader Andrzej Duda in Kyiv.
“We welcome the adoption of sanctions. We look forward to their strengthening. Germany’s decision on Nord Stream 2 is important. We discussed the implications of Russia’s actions on European security. This is being solved now in Ukraine,” Ukraine’s President stated.
“It’s not a weather forecast – it’s more complicated here. It is impossible to predict further actions of Putin and separatists in Donbas. What I am sure of is that Ukraine and the Ukrainian army are ready for any scenario,” Zelensky assured.
“Russia’s actions have provoked a united reaction from Europe and the world. We see the united voice of condemnation coming from different world capitals. But this is not enough. Rhetoric is not enough today, we need strong decisions!” Nauseda underlined.
“I am convinced that Russian citizens want to live in peace, without any wars. They want to be perceived as good and honest people… They want to travel freely, go around the world – they want to enjoy the benefits of the peaceful world,” Duda stated.
Zelensky said that following today’s talks, he signed a statement with the presidents of Poland and Lithuania on support for granting Ukraine the status of an EU candidate country.
As reported earlier today, “no sanctions will be enough until Russian boots withdraw from Ukrainian soil,” Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine’s MFA head, noted.
The meeting of the three leaders was taking place amid recent developments in the Russia-Ukraine border tensions, with Russia officially recognizing self-proclaimed “Luhansk and Donetsk People’s Republics” and ordering troops into these territories. Speaking at a press conference on February 22, Zelensky said Ukraine was reviewing the possibility of breaking diplomatic ties with Russia.
