President Zelensky Endorses By His Decree Refusal of Negotiations with Putin

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky enacted the decision of the National Security and Defence Council, providing for the refusal of negotiations with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. The corresponding document is published on the website of the Office of the President.

The decision was made on 30 September, the day when the president of the Russian Federation announced the illegal “accession” of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions to Russia. The document contains five provisions:

1. It is established that negotiations with Putin are impossible.
2. The text of the Joint Address of the President of Ukraine, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, and the Prime Minister of Ukraine to NATO was approved.
3. The Cabinet of Ministers is instructed to prepare proposals for a multi-level system of security guarantees based on multilateral and bilateral agreements, aimed at bringing the defence potential of Ukraine to a level that will ensure a guaranteed rebuff to the armed aggression of the Russian Federation.
4. The Government is instructed to strengthen the state’s defence capabilities by increasing the supply of military and technical assistance to Ukraine.
5. It is recommended that the Verkhovna Rada speed up the adoption of draft laws on sanctions and other responses to Russia’s escalation.

Earlier, President Zelensky said that Ukraine was ready for negotiations but with another Russian president since Putin “does not know what dignity and honesty are.”

Bohdan Marusyak