Up next is Sky News’ security and defence editor Deborah Haynes. She asks what the chances are of Zelensky negotiating with Vladimir Putin. She also says “about 20” of Nato’s member states have pledged to increase their defence spending to help Ukraine and asks if he’d like them all to?
He says her second question in particular is a complex one because she’s essentially asking how the world’s security institutions can be reformed. The important thing to remember, he says, is that countries are cutting Russia off, not doing business with it.
Countries need “maximum independence” to protect themselves, Zelensky goes on, bringing the room back to Haynes’ first question.
Listing some of the alleged Russian atrocities committed during the war – including, as he describes it, people being tortured – the Ukrainian leader asks how Ukraine can legitimately sit around a negotiating table with Russia. Instead, he says, he has a message for Moscow:
Quote Message: Respect our right to live on our land, get out of our territory, stop bombing us, stop killing civilians… stop the bombardments.”
“Respect our right to live on our land, get out of our territory, stop bombing us, stop killing civilians… stop the bombardments.”
Source: BBC
