Zelensky: Ukraine said ‘no’ hundreds of times in negotiations

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the word “no” was uttered hundreds of times by the Ukrainian side during the negotiations.

He said this while talking to journalists, answering a question about whether Ukraine still has the full right to say “no” to any proposal after meeting with US President Donald Trump, even if it comes from key partners, if this proposal does not correspond to Ukrainian national interests and security realities, CE Report quotes Ukrinform.

“The negotiation process is not easy, although you know Ukraine's position, and I am conducting negotiations in a completely open manner. And we say ‘no’ to each other a lot. Not just once to a question, but to hundreds of questions and thousands of details. And it's such a difficult process. There are hundreds of times when you say ‘no’,” Zelensky said.

He said that there are also issues on which the parties find compromises.

"There are also times when partners say ‘yes’ to you, and vice versa. That is, this is a completely normal diplomatic struggle. And this is the independence of the country and its independent position. We are fighting for this, by the way. This is what Putin did not want," said the head of the Ukrainian state.

The president explained that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin wanted to deprive Ukrainians of their sovereign right to choose how to live, whom to elect, and what to defend.

“That is why Ukraine is independent today, and where it is not in Ukraine's interests, we speak openly about it,” he assured.

As reported by CE Report, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the presence of international troops in Ukraine is a necessary component of security guarantees.