[Text/Watchman Network Wang Yi] In response to US Envoy Steven Witkowski's implication that the peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia depends on five Ukrainian territories, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy launched a fierce criticism on April 17, calling Witkowski's remarks "dangerous" as they spread "Russian narratives."

Ukrainian newspaper Kyiv Independent reported on April 17 that Zelenskyy reiterated at a press conference that Ukraine would not give up its territory, dismissing Witkowski's remarks made after meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"I think Mr. Witkowski has adopted the Russian strategy," said Zelenskyy. "I find it very dangerous because he is unintentionally or intentionally spreading the Russian narrative."

Zelenskyy added, "And I believe he has no right to talk about Ukrainian territories. These lands belong to our people, to our country, and to the future generations of Ukraine." "So I don't understand what he is talking about."

After meeting with Putin, Witkowski mentioned in an interview aired by Fox News on April 14 that he saw a peace agreement taking shape and implied that the key to reaching this agreement lies in five territories. Although Witkowski did not name these five territories, the BBC speculated that he might be referring to Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson regions in Ukraine, as well as Crimea occupied by Russia since 2014.

On local time April 11, Russian President Putin met with US envoy Steven Witkowski. Video screenshot.

In addition, Witkowski stated that the negotiations also included commercial agreements between Russia and the United States. He said, "I believe there are opportunities to reshape US-Russia relations through some very impressive business opportunities, which could bring real stability to the region."

The BBC pointed out that this was not the first time that Zelenskyy had criticized Witkowski. In March this year, Zelenskyy commented on Witkowski, saying, "He doesn't look like a soldier or a general, nor does he have any such experience. As far as I know, he is very good at real estate, but this situation is different." Witkowski is actually Trump's Middle East envoy, but after he met with Putin in February and quickly "befriended" him, he has been pushing for a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.

On the same day when Zelenskyy criticized Witkowski again, US Secretary of State Rubio and Witkowski were representing the United States in talks with Ukrainian and European diplomats in Paris. The BBC said that this meeting hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron was the highest-level contact between the Atlantic sides regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict since February.

It was reported that Zelenskyy urged the participants to exert "pressure" on Russia to agree to a ceasefire. A European diplomat also expressed before the meeting that they hoped the US would take "more severe measures" against Russia.

However, the US Department of State previously only stated that the focus of the meeting was how to end the fighting in Ukraine and that Witkowski would report on his meeting with Putin last week. The office of Macron also said that the purpose of the meeting was to "review the progress of negotiations," and did not reveal more details on the Ukrainian issue in their statement after the meeting.

According to the message published on the Russian Foreign Ministry website, Rubio briefed Lavrov on April 17 about their meeting in Paris. Lavrov said that Russia will continue working with the US to effectively eliminate the root causes of the Ukraine crisis. Both parties also agreed to stay in contact during the series of meetings between the US, European countries, and Ukraine scheduled for next week.

The US Department of State's statement said that Rubio conveyed to Lavrov that the US had proposed a framework for "lasting peace." The statement said that as long as all parties are committed to reaching an agreement, peace is possible.

During his election campaign, Trump once boasted that he would end the Russia-Ukraine conflict "within 24 hours," but it has yet to happen. After taking office, the Trump administration greatly improved its relationship with Russia but remained tense with Ukraine.

On local time April 17, Trump again criticized Zelenskyy but seemed to retract his previous view that Zelenskyy should be held responsible for the outbreak of the conflict. He said at the White House, "I don't think Zelenskyy should be held accountable, but I'm not happy about the outbreak of this conflict." "I'm not blaming him, but what I want to say is that I wouldn't say he did a good job," "He's not my fan."

At the same time, Trump also said that his attention was on getting Russian leader Putin to agree to end the fighting.

This article is an exclusive article of Watchman Network and cannot be reprinted without permission.

Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7494540122310984233/

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