President Volodymyr Zelensky vowed to convene the long-awaited Normandy Four peace summit to discuss ending Russia’s war in the Donbas, no matter what it takes.
If the meeting, which is expected in the next few months doesn’t take place, Zelensky said he would hold separate talks with each of the Normandy Four participants — the leaders of Russia, France and Germany.
“The Normandy summit is being prepared in any case,” Zelensky said in Kyiv on March 9 during Ukraine 30, a weekly forum, which this time focused on culture, media and tourism.
“It must be held,” the president said. “On a personal note, and I have said this to our Western partners, if there’s no Normandy Four summit, I’ll find (a new) format after I meet with each of the Normandy Four leaders (individually).”
Zelensky said can be no further delays of “this important issue.”
The latest Normandy Four summit was held in December 2019 in Paris, after which, the Ukrainian president pledged to find a diplomatic solution to the Kremlin-sponsored war in Donbas within a year.
If the negotiations produce no tangible results, Zelensky vowed to launch a “plan B” for Donbas, the provisions of which have never been publicly specified.
Despite there being no diplomatic solution in sight, Ukraine’s policy on the talks with Russia hasn’t changed.
Moreover, due to Russian opposition, a Normandy Four summit was not held in 2020, despite efforts by Ukraine, France and Germany.
Another attempt to convene the talks is expected in April, with Russia still refusing to participate.
Zelensky said that his administration’s recent decision to sanction top Kremlin ally, lawmaker Viktor Medvedchuk, has impeded peace talks with Russia.
“We understand that there are consequences,” the Ukrainian president said.
“We understand that the number of armed provocative acts in the war zone has increased. I don’t want to draw direct associations with this fact, but we understand that these things are taking place simultaneously.”
