Ukraine: “Concessions” to Putin would be “unacceptable” for Europe, says Zelensky

Any concessions to Vladimir Putin on Ukraine would be “unacceptable” for kyiv and for Europe, Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday, shortly after Moscow urged the West to negotiate or face “the destruction of the Ukrainian population”.

The Ukrainian president also called on Americans and Europeans to be “strong” and to “value” their relations, even if the election of Donald Trump as head of the United States casts uncertainty over both the links between these allies and support for Ukraine.

Making “concessions to Putin” is “unacceptable for Ukraine and unacceptable for all of Europe,” Mr. Zelensky said in a speech to European leaders gathered in Budapest.

– “A productive conversation” –

More than two and a half years after it began invading Ukraine, Russia is in a position of strength on the eastern front, where its army is advancing faster and faster against fewer and less well-equipped Ukrainian soldiers.

The election of Donald Trump to the White House also leaves Ukraine and the Europeans fearing a US disengagement in the coming months.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the European Political Community (EPC) summit on November 7, 2024 in Budapest, Hungary © AFP – Ludovic MARIN

“I spoke to President Trump (…), it was a productive conversation but, of course, we cannot say what specific actions he will take,” noted the Ukrainian head of state.

Mr. Zelensky also recalled that Russian forces had, according to kyiv and the West, received reinforcements of at least 10,000 North Korean soldiers.

North Korea “is now waging war in Europe”. “North Korean soldiers are trying to kill our people on European soil,” he lamented.

It is in this difficult context that Volodymyr Zelensky went to Hungary on Thursday for a meeting with European leaders. He said that the ties between the United States and Europe should not be “lost” but “enhanced” after Donald Trump's victory.

– “Destruction of the population” –

During the day, a series of Russian strikes took place on the southern city of Zaporizhzhia, killing four people and illustrating the intensification of Russian bombing in Ukraine.

Thirty-three other people, including three children, were injured by these hovering bombs which hit a hospital and residential buildings, according to the regional governor.

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“There may still be people under the rubble,” according to the authorities.

In recent weeks, Russia has targeted this industrial region in southern Ukraine, which had a population of more than 700,000 before the war.

The strikes came hours after Russian Security Council chief Sergei Shoigu urged kyiv's Western allies to enter into negotiations if they want to end attacks on Ukrainians.

Ukraine: Positions of military forces © AFP – Valentin RAKOVSKY, Sophie RAMIS, Cléa PECULIER

“The situation in the theater of hostilities is not in favor of the kyiv regime, the West has a choice: continue its financing (of Ukraine) and the destruction of the Ukrainian population or admit the existing realities and start negotiating,” he said during a meeting.

With Donald Trump's return to the White House, the ball is in the American court, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday.

“We will see if there are any proposals” from the new American government, he said.

– Series of attacks –

With the apparent desire to break the morale of the population, Russia continues its daily bombings of Ukraine.

On Thursday evening, a strike on the village of Mykolaivka killed two people and injured five, according to the governor of the eastern Donetsk region, Vadym Filashkin.

Ukrainian firefighters extinguish a fire in a building after a Russian drone attack in kyiv, November 7, 2024 © AFP – Genya SAVILOV

The capital kyiv was also targeted by drone raids for almost the entire first week of November, the military administration said.

During the night from Wednesday to Thursday, debris from such devices fell on six districts of kyiv, causing two minor injuries, according to the source.

Ukrainian servicemen of the 24th Mechanized Brigade improve their tactical skills at a training ground in the Donetsk region, November 6, 2024 © 24th Mechanized Brigade of Ukrainian Armed Forces – Handout

Moscow demands that Ukraine lay down its arms, that it cedes five regions, renounces its alliance with the West and its ambition to join NATO. Conditions unacceptable for this country.

The Americans and Europeans assure Ukraine of their unwavering support but refuse to authorize it to strike deep into Russian territory with the weapons they supply.

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