Excerpts from an interview President Zelensky had with the media in Kiev were published on the Ukrainian presidential website. Zelensky argues that whatever truce or peace may materialize Ukraine will still have to be able to protect itself in the future because another aggression by the Russian Federation cannot be ruled out.
Already during the Istanbul negotiation process with Russia, Zelensky points out, last spring, in the early stages of the war, Ukraine explained to the representatives of Moscow, who were asking for total demilitarization, of the need to have an adequate army in order to be able to defend the state.
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Indeed, continues the leader of Kiev, “even if we signed the most stringent of agreements, we think that in a couple of years Russia could try again“. Zelensky added that however his country cannot fight all the time while other countries develop. Ukraine needs precise guarantees. There must be a list of guarantor countries, which must ensure that certain points are implemented.
"All of this is discussed at the advisor level and with the leaders of France, United States, Turkey, United Kingdom, Poland, Italy, Israel and there are many other friends who want to participate. But so far Zelensky added. we have not received a precise list of guarantees and a list of countries willing to follow us 100%. We don't need 40 countries in the world ready to unite and fight for Ukraine on the basis of an agreement”.
G20 in Bangalore registers a stalemate….on the contrary!!!
Yesterday in Bangalore in India the tug of war between two opposing blocks prevailed again, where moreover the 12 points of the peace proposal put forward by Wang Yi two days ago are creating quite a few divisions in the western camp. The lack of a final joint statement has forced the Indian leadership to settle for just the presidential conclusions where it is clear that most members have condemned the invasion wanted by Putin WITHOUT EVER MENTIONING THE WORD WAR.
"The contortions over Ukraine and the climate challenge increase the differences“, said the Italian Economy Minister, Giorgetti who then stigmatizes a world increasingly divided in two.
Moscow, meanwhile, is pursuing its strategic goals by blocking crude oil exports to Poland.
On the Chinese peace plan, the White House is laconic "There is nothing in Beijing's plan that could bring any benefit to anyone other than Russia”.
Belarus ready to take the field alongside Putin
Belarus has at least 1,5 million potential military personnel outside its military, a senior official said on Saturday.
The President Alexander Lukashenko ordered the formation of a new voluntary territorial defense force of up to 150.000 strong. He told the press that his army would fight only if Belarus was attacked.
"The Belarusian structures, not the armed forces, can guarantee 1,5 million people in the event of a declaration of martial law and the transition of the economy to a war mode”, said the state secretary of the Security Council Alexander Volfovich, according to state news agency BelTA.