Poroshenko offered a “Plan B” on CNN in case Putin refuses to accept the ceasefire
The fifth president and current People’s Deputy Petro Poroshenko stated: Ukraine and its allies are counting on a ceasefire agreement. He once again recalled the principle of “nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine”, introduced after 2014, and noted that the future peace agreement is a very complex process, it cannot be adopted in one day.
He said this on CNN, answering a question from well-known journalist Richard Quest about expectations from US President Donald Trump’s talks with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin in Alaska.
“It will be a difficult task to negotiate with Putin. Everyone expects that we will achieve a ceasefire. And I hope that Trump will convey to Putin the position of the collective team, which includes Ukraine, European countries and the people of the United States. I know that we can achieve results,” Poroshenko assured.
He also noted that ultimatums regarding the relinquishment of territories are unacceptable for Ukraine.
“We are not a nation or a country that trades or exchanges our land. And we should not talk about a peace agreement now. It is impossible. Because it consists of so many points that it may be unattainable in a short period of time. But what is a realistic possible outcome of the meeting in Alaska? An unconditional, comprehensive ceasefire,” the fifth president believes.
In his opinion, a ceasefire on the ground, in the air, at sea. The politician added that this is a fact against which “Putin simply will not have any arguments.”
“In fact, Putin does not need Ukrainian territory. Putin needs all of Ukraine. Putin does not need a free and democratic Ukrainian state, he wants us to be a colony of Russia. And in this situation, we must act unitedly. We have more than enough tools to put pressure on Putin,” the fifth President is convinced.
According to him, if the Russian dictator does not accept the demand to stop the war and declare a ceasefire, it is necessary to have a “plan B.”
“First, it’s weapons for Ukraine. It’s not just defensive weapons. I want to remind you that the first defensive weapons I received as the president of Ukraine from President Trump in 2017. But also offensive weapons, long-range missiles, so that Putin understands that for this refusal he will pay a very high price. Point number two is sanctions, including secondary sanctions, which will stop Putin’s ability to finance the war. And he should have no illusions that he can postpone or suspend these sanctions with his chatter. Point number three is the use of assets, frozen assets, to support the financial system. Not at the expense of taxpayers’ money, but at the expense of Russian frozen assets. Point number four is security guarantees. And the best security guarantee, regardless of whether we are a member of NATO or not, is Article 5 of NATO, very similar to the Finnish model of security guarantees before Finland became a member of the Alliance, which is an absolutely excellent example. And point number “Five is support for reforms, democracy and freedom in Ukraine, because we need a free and democratic country, not one similar to the Russian autocracy,” Poroshenko emphasized.
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