Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has launched a virulent attack on former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, who suggested on Tuesday that peace talks should be aimed at creating borders along the “line of contact” in the Donbas, as existed on the eve of the Russian invasion, CNN reports.
“No matter what the Russian state does, there is someone who says, “Let’s take his interests into account.” This year, in Davos, it was heard again. Despite thousands of Russian missiles hitting Ukraine. Despite the fact that tens of thousands of Ukrainians were killed. Despite what happened in Bucha and Mariupol. Despite the destroyed cities. And despite the “filter camps” built by the Russian state, in which people are killed, tortured, raped and humiliated like a conveyor belt, “the Ukrainian president said in a recent video on social media.
““Russia has done all this in Europe, but in Davos, for example, Mr. Kissinger comes from the deep past and says that a piece of Ukraine should be given to Russia, so that there is no alienation of Russia from Europe.” added the Kyiv leader.
Kissinger spoke on Monday via video link to the Davos Forum. In his comments, Kissinger said that Following negotiations between the Russians and the Ukrainians, which should begin in the next two months, the demarcation line should be “ideal” a return to the “pre-war status quo” of the war. The former head of US diplomacy suggested apparently Ukraine should agree to give up much of the Donbas and Crimea.
“Continuing the war beyond this point would not be about Ukraine’s freedom, but a new war against Russia itself, “Kissinger said.
The former US Secretary of State and architect of the US-China rapprochement during the Cold War also said it would be fatal for the West to be drawn to the moment and forget Russia’s proper place in the European balance of power.
Kissinger also said that the war should not be allowed to continue for a long time and was close to asking the West to persuade Ukraine to accept the negotiations in terms that are far from its current war objectives.
“I hope that the Ukrainians will equate the heroism they have shown with wisdom, “said the former US official, adding that the appropriate role for this state is to be a neutral buffer rather than a border of Europe.
Zelenski compared Kissinger’s views to the reconciliation of Nazi Germany in 1938. “Mr Kissinger’s calendar seems to be not 2022, but 1938, and he thought he was speaking to an audience not in Davos, but in what was then Munich, “Volodymyr Zelensky said. “By the way, in the real year 1938, when Mr. Kissinger’s family was fleeing Nazi Germany, he was 15 years old “, added the Ukrainian president.
“When Ukraine says that it will fight until it regains all its territories, it means one thing: that Ukraine will fight until it regains all its territories. It is about independence and sovereignty, “Zelenski said in a separate message to the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday. notes The Hill.
At the same time Zelensky called those who say Ukraine should give something to Russia, the “great geo-politicians”, digging about that they do not always want to see ordinary people, in this case, ordinary Ukrainians. “You always have to see people, “said the Ukrainian president.
“Henry Kissinger Still Lives in the 20th Century”
Separately, a Ukrainian MP gave what he called a “polite” response to former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger’s suggestion that Ukraine should be prepared to cede territory to Moscow in order to reach a peace agreement.
“I think Mr. Kissinger is still alive in the 20th century, and we are in the 21st century and we will not give up an inch of our territory.” he told CNBC on Wednesday Oleksiy Goncharenko, a member of the Ukrainian parliament.
“We should stop Putin now and not let him go on,” Goncharenko said, adding that he believes the best way to make peace is to bring Ukraine into the European Union as soon as possible.
Ukraine’s foreign minister also criticized Kissinger’s suggestion. “I respect Henry Kissinger, but I appreciate that he does not hold any official position in the US administration. He has his own opinion and we do not agree with that at all, “Dmytro Kuleba told CNBC on Wednesday. “We will never do what he proposes,” the Ukrainian foreign minister said.
In fact, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte also commented on Kissinger’s statements, also telling CNBC on Wednesday that, although “it is almost impossible to say that you do not agree with Henry Kissinger … I’m afraid that on TV, now, you have to I officially declare that I do not agree with Henry Kissinger. “
Read also: Kuleba accuses NATO of “doing nothing” against Russian invasion of Ukraine
Editor: Marco Badea
Tags: Zelenski criticizes Kissinger diplomat suggested Ukraine cede part territory Russia
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