Russia's behavior in coming days to show a lot, if not all – Zelensky
The behavior of the Russian side in the coming days will show whether new measures should be taken against Moscow.
This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelensky in an evening address to the nation, Ukrinform reports.
"The way Russia will behave in the coming days will show a lot, if not everything. If air raid alerts go off again, if there is military activity in the Black Sea again, if there are Russian manipulations and threats again, then new measures will have to be taken – precisely against Moscow," Zelensky said.
The president emphasized that diplomacy must work.
"We, on the Ukrainian side, are doing everything to this end. I’d like to thank everyone who helps us. I thank America for the fact that our teams are working constructively and effectively. We need a result from Russia. We don't believe them. In reality, the world doesn't believe Russia. And they must prove that they are ready to end the war and ready not to lie to the world, not to lie to Trump, not to lie to America," Zelensky said.
He also said that if the Russian side fails to fulfill the agreement reached on the safety of Blask Sea navigation, they will only receive new sanctions: "If this agreement doesn’t work either, if the Russians do not fulfill the terms of today's agreements and try to put pressure on America, on Europe, on Ukraine again, then I believe the answer should be one: definitely new sanctions, definitely more pressure."
The president recalled that from the very start of the negotiations, the American side had been proposing an unconditional ceasefire.
"I’d like to remind you that since March 11, America's proposal for a complete and unconditional ceasefire has been on the table – everywhere, not just in the energy sector and in the Black Sea. It was Russia that did not agree to this. It is the Russian position that is prolonging this war. When Putin did not say ‘yes’ to an unconditional ceasefire, there were no new sanctions against Russia. Now Moscow is demanding something about lifting some of the sanctions, although for three years they have been saying that sanctions were not scary to them, even useful," Zelensky added.
As Ukrinform reported, the Kremlin stated that the agreement on the safety of navigation in the Black Sea will enter into force only after some of the restrictions against Russia are lifted.
Earlier, the White House published a statement on the outcome of the negotiations between the American and Ukrainian delegations in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia). Washington and Kyiv agreed to ensure safe navigation, eliminate the use of force, and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea.
The United States and Ukraine also agreed to develop measures to implement the agreements between Presidents Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky on the prohibition of strikes on energy facilities in Russia and Ukraine.
Photo: President’s Office