Zelensky assures that the negotiations “are ongoing” and has reiterated security guarantees for Ukraine

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MADRID, March 17. (EUROPE PRESS) –

The President of Ukraine, Volodimir Zelenski, has assured late this Wednesday that the negotiations with Russia “are ongoing” and has reiterated security guarantees for Ukraine, as well as regretted not being able to enable more corridors for civilians who are in the combat zones.

“Negotiations are ongoing. Negotiations for the good of Ukraine. My priorities in the negotiations are absolutely clear: the end of the war, security guarantees, sovereignty, restoration of territorial integrity, real guarantees for our country , the real protection for our country,” he stressed in a statement published on the official website of the presidency.

In his daily speech, the Ukrainian president referred to the attack in Chernigov in which Russian troops shot civilians queuing to buy bread. “Ten people have died”, he has denounced him.

It has also warned of the bombing in the main theater of Mariúpol, which was serving as a refuge for “hundreds” of people. “The building has been destroyed. The number of dead is still unknown,” he stressed.

“We will not forget anyone whose life has been taken by the occupants. We will not forgive any murdered soul. Eternal memory to all the victims of this terror!” he added.

Zelensky has also celebrated the release of the mayor of Melitopol, Ivan Fedorov, who was allegedly kidnapped last Saturday by Russian troops and has assured that he has had a conversation with him.

The president has highlighted in his daily speech the losses that the Russian Armed Forces are suffering and, according to Zelensky, the soldiers sent by Vladimir Putin did not suffer so much “neither in Syria, nor in Chechnya, nor in Afghanistan.” “Mothers in Russia will lose more children than in the wars in Afghanistan and Chechnya combined,” Zelensky stressed.

Zelenski has again alluded to the Russian Army to encourage the military to “come home”, advising that, “lay down your arms. It is better than dying on the battlefield,” he said.

DISABLED HUMANITARIAN CORRIDORS

Likewise, Zelenski has regretted that the humanitarian corridors have not been able to work this Wednesday. “The Russian military did not stop bombing, they did not guarantee security. We are ready to get people out and send humanitarian aid. But we cannot expose people to roadside bombing,” he said.

“We are taking Mariupol residents who managed to escape to Berdyansk. We are taking them to Zaporizhia. In total, more than 6,000 Mariupol residents have left in one day, including more than 2,000 children,” the president stressed.

In this context, Zelenski has assured that the Russian military also tried to interrupt this transfer. “They opened mortar fire on the stretch of road between Vasilivka and Kamianské, in the Zaporizhia region. Only by a miracle there were no casualties. Five Ukrainians were injured, including two children,” he detailed.

The President of Ukraine has once again urged the people of Ukraine not to give up: “All of us resist, we do not give up.” In addition, Zelensky has praised the courage of the thousands of citizens of the city of Berdyansk for taking to the streets to protest against the Russian occupation.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

The president mentioned his speech before the United States Congress, after which he thanked Biden and “the leadership that has united the democratic world.”

In this sense, it has once again incited countries to impose new sanctions against Russia. “New sanctions packages against Russia are necessary. The world must finally officially recognize that it has become a terrorist state,” he said.

In his opinion, “Ukraine should receive more support.” “Even more than what we receive now. Air defense systems. Aircraft. Enough lethal weapons and ammunition to stop the Russian occupiers,” she stressed.

Zelensky welcomed Ukraine’s entry into the European energy network. “Now Ukraine can use electricity flows from the European Union. We have been moving towards this for decades. It has finally been achieved. I thank all the energy engineers of our country, all those who have worked for this result,” he said. indicated.

“We are already working on programs to restore our country after the war,” Zelensky announced, adding that he is confident that they will be “able to rebuild” Ukraine “quickly” and that “it will be a historical reconstruction.”

Thus, he explained that this Wednesday he held talks with the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, to “thank the support and agree on new steps for peace”.

He also spoke with the Prime Minister of Ireland, Micheál Martin, to express his condolences for the death of the Irish journalist, Pierre Zakrzewski, in Ukraine.