Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of “manipulating” and “distorting” the US-mediated agreements announced today to halt attacks on energy infrastructure and ensure free navigation in the Black Sea.
“Ukraine is ready to work as quickly and transparently as possible to end the war. But unfortunately, at this moment, today, on the very day of the negotiations, we see how the Russians have already begun to manipulate,” Zelensky said in his evening speech.
Russia, according to Zelensky, is “lying” about the start date – March 18 – of the ceasefire over attacks on energy infrastructure and about the conditions regarding free navigation in the Black Sea, in this case citing as a condition the lifting of sanctions imposed on Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine.
The Ukrainian president noted that the statements released by the White House after several days of separate meetings in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, between US and Ukrainian envoys and between representatives of Washington and Moscow are "absolutely clear."
"They are already trying to distort the agreements and deceive our mediators and everyone else," Zelensky added, referring to Russia.
"Moscow always lies," stressed the Ukrainian president, who assured that his country will strive to ensure that the agreements work and that there are no attacks, which, in his opinion, Moscow is lacking.
"I would like to remind you that since March 11, the US proposal for a comprehensive and unconditional ceasefire has been on the table - everywhere - not only in terms of energy and the Black Sea. It was Russia that refused to agree to this," Zelensky said.
The United States announced today an understanding with the Ukrainian and Russian delegations for a truce in the fighting in the Black Sea, as part of negotiations in Saudi Arabia on the conflict in Ukraine.
The two countries agreed to "ensure the security of navigation, eliminate the use of force and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea", said the White House, which announced the agreement with Kiev and Moscow in separate statements.
In the texts, Washington also indicated that the parties agreed to "develop measures" to prohibit attacks on Russian and Ukrainian energy facilities.
The Kremlin later added that the ceasefire on attacks on energy infrastructure discussed during the negotiations with the United States included refineries, gas pipelines and power plants.
Regarding Russia, the United States committed to helping restore access to the "global market for agricultural and fertilizer exports", as well as to facilitate access to ports and payment systems for these transactions.
Regarding Ukraine, the Trump administration has promised to "help implement the exchange of prisoners of war, the release of civilians and the return of Ukrainian children forcibly transferred" to Russian territory.
French President Emmanuel Macron will host a meeting of leaders of 31 countries "on peace and security in Ukraine" on Thursday, which will discuss a potential force to be deployed to the country, as well as immediate and long-term military aid to Kyiv and efforts to achieve a permanent ceasefire, sources at the Elysee Palace announced.
Macron will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Elysee Palace on Wednesday afternoon, so that both can prepare for the meeting the following day.
In response to the agreements announced today, France believes that they are "a step in the right direction", but still insufficient for a "lasting ceasefire" in the conflict, according to sources at the French presidency in a video conference with journalists.
The same sources indicated that France opposes Russia's demand that sanctions on its agricultural exports be lifted as a condition of the truce, stating that the European Union has not sanctioned either food or fertilizer shipments, which are, however, being hampered by the effects of the war launched by Moscow in February 2022.
No comments:
Post a Comment