What’s The Thinking Inside Zelensky’s Team: Exclusive Insights

On Tuesday, June 27, the head of the Office of the President, Andriy Yermak, met with Ukrainian and foreign journalists and talked about progress and difficulties implementing President Zelensky’s Peace Formula with over 50 international partners, some more cooperative than others. While a Peace Summit is in the works, dates and venue have yet to be set. There is general agreement that Ukraine’s sovereignty must be upheld, but some countries may not agree with Ukraine’s stance on regaining all of its 1991 territory.

One of the main topics concerned holding a Peace Summit to support the Ukrainian “Peace Formula.” On June 24 in Copenhagen, the Ukrainian delegation met with national security advisors of Brazil, the UK, Denmark, the EU, Italy, India, Canada, Germany, the Republic of South Africa, Saudi Arabia, the US, Turkey, France, and Japan.

Yermak characterized the results of the meeting as positive: “Everyone shares the basic principles on which our Peace Formula is built. Everyone is united in their desire to do everything in their power to stop this war.

“Everyone knows what victory for [Ukraine] is: There can be no compromises regarding territories,” he told reporters.

He added that this is not the last Peace Summit, with all participants agreeing to meet again, possibly in one of the countries of the Global South.

Participants agreed the Peace Summit should take place in 2023 they did not set a date, with Ukraine insisting it should be as early as possible. Up to 50 countries have confirmed their intention to participate in the summit, but this doesn’t mean that all will support the peace implementation formulas proposed by Ukraine, Yermak said. He added that all participants support the general liberation of Ukrainian territories and sovereignty, but specifics would have to be discussed.

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Yermak said the Peace Summit venue had not been determined. Options are – during the UN General Assembly in Washington or as part of the meeting of the G20 countries in India, which is scheduled for September. Meanwhile, France, Denmark, Italy, and the Netherlands have already announced their desire to host the summit.

Until then, the Office of the President plans to organize a meeting between Volodymyr Zelensky and Indian leaders.

“Zelensky’s visit to India or Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Ukraine may take place,” Yermak said.

He also mentioned the delegation of African countries that visited Ukraine on June 16. Yermak said that “African countries have 100 percent changed their positions regarding our country,” but he didn’t explain exactly how their opinion changed.

Ukrainian authorities still don’t understand why Israel has chosen a neutral position and has continued normal communications with Russia.

Yermak said that Ukraine expects more help from Israel. In addition to humanitarian projects Kyiv would like to see Israeli leaders make a state visit to Kyiv.

“I don’t understand why [ Prime Minister] Netanyahu didn’t come to Kyiv, didn’t visit the holy places, Uman, in particular, Babyn Yar [where many Jews killed by the Nazis during the Second World War are buried].”

The president is also waiting for the Israeli government’s reaction to the Russian president’s anti-Semitic statements.

Yermak also commented on the attempted coup d'état in Russia by Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin. In his opinion, Putin showed the entire world that he is no longer on the list of strong leaders. He believes attempts to seize power in the Russian Federation will continue.

“The countdown has started,” Yermak believes.

These events also show that it is dangerous to agree on anything with Russia, especially behind Ukraine’s back. Yermak has warned the Vatican about this on the eve of their visit to Moscow on June 29-30.

“If the representative of the Vatican talks about the release of Ukrainian prisoners and children, then we can judge by the results. But we don’t need mediation on other issues,” Yermak explained.