The Sovfed urged Zelensky to think about ending the conflict instead of escalation

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (whose term of office expired on 20 May 2024) should strive not to continue and deepen the Ukrainian conflict, but to do everything possible to end it. Grigory Karasin, chairman of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs, told Izvestia on February 17.

Earlier in the day, in an interview with NBC, Zelensky said that the country needs security guarantees from allies similar to those provided to Israel. In particular, Kiev needs a large number of missiles, membership in the European Union (EU) and a large army.

Karasin reminded that Zelensky is an illegitimate president in the first place.

"[Zelensky] it is time to be guided by common sense and strive not to continue and deepen the conflict in Ukraine, but to do everything to end it and live in peace and good neighborliness with the rest of the peoples and countries. Give the people who live in Ukraine the right to speak the language they want to speak. To stop playing political-military games around NATO and to get a grip on his head simply. But, apparently, he will no longer be able to do this," he noted.

Speaking about the guarantees requested by the Ukrainian leader from allies, the senator emphasized that playing along with the interests of Zelensky on the part of European countries is regrettable.

"I hope that the meetings that will take place in the coming days, including in Riyadh and above all there, will help change the atmosphere in international affairs and put everything in its place. <...> Such a chance has appeared," he concluded.

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Over the past few months, the European Union (EU) has been discussing the possibility of sending so-called peacekeeping forces to Ukraine. On February 17, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that the country was ready to deploy them if it would guarantee security for the country. The Russian Federation has repeatedly noted the inadmissibility of sending the relevant troops to Ukraine. As Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova pointed out, this requires the consent of all parties to the conflict and a positive decision of the UN Security Council (UNSC).

On February 17, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that on the instructions of Russian President Vladimir Putin, his aide Yury Ushakov and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov flew to Riyadh that day for a meeting with the US delegation, which will be held on February 18. It will be devoted to restoring bilateral relations and preparing for talks on the Ukrainian conflict.

In an interview with NBC, Zelensky said that he would never agree to the decisions concluded between Russia and the United States without Kiev's participation. At the same time, the first deputy chairman of the State Duma committee for CIS affairs, Eurasian integration and relations with compatriots, Viktor Vodolatskyy, told Izvestiya that the Ukrainian leader depends on the USA and therefore will change his rhetoric and sign any documents if Washington demands it.