Zelenskyy calls on US to become Ukraine's security guarantor and urges other countries to choose between good and evil
OLENA ROSHCHINA – WEDNESDAY, 21 SEPTEMBER 2022, 01:07
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine joined the meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative remotely and urged the world leaders to abandon neutrality in relation to the war in Ukraine. He also called on the United States of America to encourage other democratic states to help Ukraine more, in particular, by supplying more weapons.
Source: Office of the President of Ukraine; Politico; Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in a Telegram post about his participation in the event
Details: One of the panels of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) meeting, which took place on 20 September, was dedicated to Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke with former US President Bill Clinton in a live video interview.
Zelenskyy said that the US is an "indicator of democracy" for the entire civilised world, which serves as an example for other countries. He said that it was therefore important that the US remain a leader in supporting Ukraine and putting pressure on Russia.
Quote from Zelenskyy: "When the US gives Ukraine artillery, then other countries support us and also provide it. When the US designates [a country - ed.] a sponsor of terrorism, the democracies of Europe also support this initiative. Therefore, when you ask me how the United States can help, it is to be a leader."
Details: Zelenskyy thanked the US for military and other aid to Ukraine. He also urged the country to encourage other democratic countries to provide more assistance to Ukraine, in particular to provide the necessary weapons.
"They have the artillery we need, the appropriate weapons. And here, politically, the United States could put pressure," Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted, adding that he and other Ukrainian officials had repeatedly discussed this issue with US congressmen and senators, as well as with the US President Joe Biden.
Zelenskyy also called on world leaders to abandon a position of neutrality with regard to the war in Ukraine because, he insisted, one cannot stand aside and not express their position in a fight against the aggressor.
Quote from Zelenskyy: "You cannot balance between good and evil, light and darkness. You have to choose a side. Every subject, every state is open, [and] free. So they can choose a side, but they can't be in the middle."
Details: The President of Ukraine noted that the US and the world community should force Russia to join Ukraine at the negotiating table after its troops leave the territory of Ukraine.
He stressed the importance of preserving the unity of the free world on such issues as using sanctions to put additional pressure on the aggressor country. This especially applies to those countries which Russia is actively attempting to lobby.
Zelenskyy said that "[i]t is very important not to lose a united Europe[an front]. In that case, the combined volume of these sanctions will definitely hit both Russia's military industry and its economy," and the Russians will be able to feel the effects of the war on their own wallets.
According to Zelenskyy, the most important sanction measure that must be applied to Russia is to designate it a state sponsor of terrorism.
He also noted that Ukraine has recently presented recommendations on security guarantees for Ukraine prepared by the international working group led by Andrii Yermak, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, and Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the former NATO Secretary General.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke in favour of the US, the UK and the EU countries becoming the guarantors of Ukraine’s security.
"I think it is very important that the USA become the first country to sign these security guarantees with Ukraine," he concluded.
In his Telegram post, Zelenskyy said that his conversation with Clinton was "sincere and productive".
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