Lithuanian President urges Zelensky not to make harmful concessions to Putin
During a joint briefing with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Lithuania, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda urged Zelensky not to make harmful concessions at the upcoming Normandy Four Summit on December 9.
"We hope that the Normandy Four meeting will take place soon, and we wish every success to our partners during the negotiations. We want you not to make concessions that could harm you. We hope that the negotiations will help facilitate steps that will reduce tension in your region and allow you, Ukraine, to speak on equal terms with your opponents," said Nausėda.
Nausėda also said that EU sanctions against Russia should be preserved.
Last time the Normandy Four leaders met in the autumn of 2016 in Berlin.
Since taking office, the new President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, decided that he should meet with Vladimir Putin to discuss the peaceful settlement of the conflict in the Donbas. The parties agreed to meet on December 9.
According to Zelensky, during the Summit, he will raise the question of specific timelines of the “de-occupation of the Donbas and the exchange of prisoners”. One of the issues on the agenda of the Summit will be the local elections in the separatist-held territories of the Donbas.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko said that Ukraine is ready for a reasonable compromise at the upcoming Normandy Four Summit in Paris.