The Russian Federation is trying to divert the international community's attention from the issue of ending the war in Donbas with the help of hybrid steps, but Ukraine has received assurances from allies that they remain on our side, said President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a press marathon “30 questions to the President of Ukraine”.
"There is a Normandy format. The French side wants to put further pressure on Russia to hold a meeting of the "Normandy Four" with the new Chancellor of Germany. And in parallel, we expect negotiations between the United States and the Russian Federation. Without Ukraine, a decision on Ukraine will not be made, but one of the most important issues of these talks will still be Ukraine," the President said.
At the same time, Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that from the very beginning of his presidency he had been looking for other formats of negotiations on ending the war in Donbas, parallel to Normandy and Minsk.
"We started it in advance (negotiation process - ed.). And now it is in progress. We will see whether the result of the diplomatic path will be achieved with the involvement of the United States," he said.
As for the negotiations in the Normandy format, according to the President, Russia is now using powerful hybrid means to make the situation in Ukraine lose relevance for the world leaders.
"Like, wait with Normandy, with this Ukraine, here's energy, here's the immigration crisis in Belarus," said Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Nevertheless, Ukraine has publicly and privately received assurances from allies - the United States, Canada, Great Britain, the EU, Turkey - that they will remain on the side of our state and will support us in the event of escalation.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine definitely does not intend to resort to force in Donbas, but the President of Russia must also publicly declare that the Russian Federation is not preparing a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
At the same time, the Head of State is convinced that Ukraine must further strengthen its powerful army and be ready for defense.
