By Janet Ekstract
ISTANBUL-Several days ago, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated his stance that no negotiation with Russian President Vladimir Putin is possible as long as he heads up the Russian government. Zelensky had already requested Ukraine’s NATO process be fast-tracked in light of Putin’s having annexed four main breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine. As Zelensky commented in a video posted on social media by the office of the Ukrainian Presidency: “We have already proven our compatibility with (NATO) alliance standards.” He added: “We are taking a decisive step by signing Ukraine’s application for accelerated accession to NATO.”
The Ukrainian president further commented after Putin announced the annexations: “Ukraine will not hold any negotiations with Russia as long as Putin is the president of the Russian Federation. We will negotiate with the new president.” Putin announced the annexations of eastern Ukrainian territory that includes Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia – signing treaties prior to the annexations which the international community and the UN have declared illegal. The U.S. announced what it terms will be “severe” sanctions on Russia, after learning of the annexations. Meanwhile, pro-Kremlin leaders of the annexed territories said the regions voted in favor of becoming part of Russia in referendums despite the fact that voters cast ballots at gunpoint.
