Selenskyj satisfied with peace conference – Overview of the night
Published: Tuesday, Jun 18th 2024, 05:20
Back to Live Feed
Following the international Ukraine peace conference in Switzerland at the weekend, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky gave a positive assessment on Monday. "We have taken the first tangible step towards peace - in an unprecedented unity of the countries of the world," he said in his evening video address. It is a path, and "new steps" are necessary. Moscow, on the other hand, categorized the conference as a "complete fiasco".
There is no "reasonable alternative" to President Vladimir Putin's peace proposal, Russian Foreign Office spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Monday evening. "The West and Kiev must stop misleading the international community with window-dressing and tricks," she said. The sooner the West accepts Putin's peace plan, the sooner the process of a real solution and an end to hostilities will begin. "Otherwise, the conditions for the start of negotiations will be much worse for them."
In Kiev's view, Putin's so-called peace plan represents a complete capitulation to Russian aggression. Among other things, the Kremlin leader is demanding that Ukraine must withdraw from the areas it still controls in the east and south. It must also renounce its NATO membership.
Selensky pointed out that Ukraine already had a provisional work plan for its peace efforts for the summer months. "We will not cut back, we will keep our communication with our partners as active as ever," he said. Ukraine never wanted this war. "But of course it wants a just peace above all." And they recognize that this is possible. "We are bringing peace closer."
Representatives from 93 countries and international organizations took part in the meeting at the Swiss luxury resort Bürgenstock near Lucerne last weekend. A large majority of them endorsed the final paper, which emphasizes Ukraine's sovereignty within its internationally recognized borders.
It was also stated that the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant belonged under Ukrainian control. Several powerful countries such as India, Brazil, Indonesia and South Africa were represented in Switzerland, but did not sign the document. China did not take part.
Stoltenberg: NATO has no plans to conduct training in Ukraine
Meanwhile, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg made it clear that the defense alliance would under no circumstances train Ukrainian soldiers on Ukrainian soil. In response to a corresponding question in an interview with "Welt" and US media on Monday, he said: "NATO has no plans to conduct training inside Ukraine. NATO will continue to train Ukrainian soldiers outside Ukraine."
Ukraine has been defending itself against the Russian war of aggression for more than two years. Recently, the possibility of sending Western military trainers to the war zone to provide more effective support to the Ukrainian army, which has come under pressure, has been discussed time and again. French President Emmanuel Macron announced almost two weeks ago that he wanted to send military trainers to the war zone together with other countries. Alongside Germany, the USA also does not want to participate.
Many injured in Russian attack on Poltava
According to official figures, at least 22 people, including three children, were injured in a Russian attack on the eastern Ukrainian city of Poltava on Monday. According to investigators, a multi-storey residential building was hit by a cruise missile.
Ukrainian army chief sees increasing pressure from Russia
Immediately before the expected arrival of new weapons and equipment from the West, Ukrainian army chief Olexander Syrskyj sees increasing pressure from Russian troops along various sections of the front. The opponent has recognized that "time is running out for Ukraine" in view of these new arms deliveries, Syrskyj wrote on Facebook on Monday. "Therefore, the command of the Russian Armed Forces is now making every effort to increase the intensity of combat operations and expand them geographically in order to maximize the exhaustion of our troops, disrupt the preparation of reserves and prevent the transition to active offensive operations."
This will be important on Tuesday
Russian President Putin will visit North Korea on Tuesday and Wednesday at the invitation of head of state Kim Jong Un. Moscow maintains close contacts with North Korea. According to Western findings, the isolated communist country with nuclear ambitions supplies ammunition for Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine
©Keystone/SDA
English 
German 
French 
Spanish 
Arabic