Zelensky: “We are not attacking Russian territory, we are liberating our legitimate lands”
After visiting Berlin, Zelenskiy met German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at Schloss Bellevue Presidential Palace and was received by Prime Minister Olaf Scholz with a military ceremony in front of the Chancellery.
After the face to face and between the delegations, Scholz and Zelenskiy held a joint press conference. Asked if Ukraine would attack Russian territory, Zelenkiy said: “We are not attacking Russian territory. We are saving our rightful lands. “We don’t have the time or the strength to do that,” he said.
Ukraine’s President Zelensky said his country is preparing a counterattack to retake the occupied territories.
Stating that the demand for fighter jets will be discussed in the second part of his meeting with Scholz, Zelenskiy said: “Now we are working to create a coalition of fighter jets.” Zelenskiy stated that this was discussed in his meetings with the European countries he visited and that he would call on his German counterparts to support them in this regard.
Stating that it is important for Ukraine to coordinate on this issue, Zelenskiy emphasized that Russia currently has airspace superiority and wants to change this.
WAR MUST END WITH A JUST PEACE
Zelenskiy said: “We all want this war to end as soon as possible, but it must end with a just peace” and that the basis of peace must be the peace formula for Ukraine, where the war took place.
Stating that he presented the initiative on a peace plan as part of the G20 Summit in Indonesia, Zelenskiy noted that they are ready to listen to all proposals on this issue, but this must be done on a platform presented by them.
Expressing that Ukraine’s territorial integrity and security are as important as other countries’ territorial integrity, Zelenskiy noted that they hope the war will end this year.
Ukrainian President Zelenskiy also thanked Germany for the support given to Ukraine.
SCHOLZ: “WE WILL SUPPORT YOU AS NEEDED”
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also said he was pleased to meet Zelenkiy for the first time in Berlin.
Noting that the Ukrainian war has been going on for 444 days, Scholz claimed that the Ukrainian people were adamantly opposed to the Russian attacks.
“This terrible war has important geopolitical consequences,” Scholz said, but explained that Ukrainians were the first to be affected by this war and that more than 1 million Ukrainian refugees are in Germany.
Chancellor Scholz stated that they support Ukraine not only humanitarianly, but also politically, financially and with weapons, saying: “We will support them as long as it takes.”
Stating that they support Ukraine with modern weapons for self-defense, Scholz recalled that they have committed to a 2.7 billion euro arms package.
THE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WAR MUST BE RESPONSIBLE
Stating that they read the terrible news about the war, Scholz said: “Those responsible for this terrible war of aggression must be held accountable. No state in the world can attack another country. “No one should kill, loot or kidnap children,” he said.
For this reason, Scholz noted that they are working with partners to ensure that Russia is held accountable for its crimes.
Stating that one country cannot attack the territory of another country and that an attack on Ukraine is “part of the imperialist concept”, Scholz said that borders cannot be changed through the use of violence.
Scholz stated that the conflict will not end without Russia withdrawing its troops from Ukraine. Noting that Zelenskiy and the Ukrainian people will receive the International Charlemagne Prize in the city of Aachen today, Scholz shared the information that they will fly to Aachen with Zelenskiy. (AA)