Official announcements from governments, reported by major international news outlets

Zelenskyy to Trump: Ukraine Will Not "Sit and Listen," Affirms Independence

Nov 16, 2024, 04:21 PM

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has reaffirmed that Ukraine is an independent nation and cannot be compelled by the United States or former President Donald Trump to "sit and listen" at the negotiating table. In recent interviews, Zelenskyy emphasized that the "sit and listen" rhetoric does not work with Ukraine, asserting, "We are an independent country." He noted that negotiations with Russia are only possible if Ukraine is strong and not alone with a "killer." Zelenskyy underscored the crucial importance of U.S. support, stating, "This is equality that we're fighting for today," and dismissed the idea that any external pressure could force Ukraine to negotiate on terms that undermine its sovereignty.