According to a report by Kyodo News on November 30, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated unequivocally that Ukraine will not agree to a ceasefire as long as Russian forces do not withdraw from Ukraine. Zelensky expressed concern that the focus on the Russia-Ukraine conflict has diminished due to the tense situation in Palestine and Israel.
Furthermore, he is looking forward to the outcomes of the Japan-Ukraine Economic Reconstruction Conference scheduled for February next year in Tokyo.
Zelensky believes that a ceasefire without Russian military withdrawal would merely be a “freezing of the conflict,” allowing Russia to regain strength and launch further territorial assaults. He stated, “Russia is not pursuing peace.”
Regarding the ceasefire discussions emerging in Europe and America, he criticized them as akin to “schemes similar to cutting off one’s own hand to give to others,” asserting that he has no intention of seeking peace at the cost of ceding territory.
On the other hand, he called for support for his proposed “peace plan,” which demands the immediate withdrawal of Russian forces. Three international conferences have already been held around this peace plan.
Zelensky revealed plans to hold a fourth conference in Switzerland, aiming to organize a summit-level meeting and draft a peace document within about six months. The goal is to use the power of international agreements to force Russian withdrawal.
Given the chaos in Palestine, he believes the Russia-Ukraine conflict “is no longer the focus of the international community,” pointing out that this has created a situation favorable to Russia.
Regarding relations with Japan, he expressed anticipation for the reconstruction conference in February, stating, “There should be very specific projects proposed.” He showed interest in cooperation in areas such as digitalization, energy, infrastructure, and green energy.
