Ukraine’s Zelenskyi: Negotiations with Russia necessary to stop Donbas war

Kiev, Dec 1 (EFE).- Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyi on Wednesday said direct negotiations between Ukraine and Russia are necessary to stop the war in the Donbas.

“Without our army, we will not be able to stop the war. And we will not be able to stop the war without direct negotiations with Russia,” Zelenskyi said during his yearly speech to parliament.

“We need to talk [to Russia], knowing that we have a strong and powerful army, and not be afraid to tell each other the truth,”  he said. “I am not afraid of a direct conversation with them.”

“Let’s close this issue, this is our country, and we have to struggle for our territories as best we can.”

Zelenskyi reiterated that it has been 7 years since Russia annexed Crimea, which coincided with a pro-Russian uprising in the eastern Donbas region of Ukraine. EFE

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