Zelensky said he will fight to the end to implement Minsk Accords

Ukrainian President Zelensky told a May 20 press conference
that progress can be made in resolving the armed conflict in Donbas by
proposing that Ukrainian citizens represent the breakaway republics in the
Minsk peace talks, instead of the current Russian-backed officials, some of
whom have Russian passports. This proposal is in line with the latest statement
on the talks made by Andriy Yermak, the head of the President’s Office.
Zelensky said he will “fight to the end” to implement the Minsk Accords, which
Western sanctions on Russia are tied to. “You know well that everyone wants to
remove them,” Zelensky said of the sanctions imposed on Russia. “I understand
that they also are suffering economically from these sanctions. But, as I have
told you, we will fight.”

Meanwhile, Zelensky reported that former President
Kuchma has asked to resign from his position as head of the Ukrainian
delegation to the Trilateral Contact Group in Minsk. He suggested to Zelensky
that the new delegation head become Oleksiy Reznikov, the experienced attorney
who currently serves as Kuchma’s deputy.

Zenon Zawada: Zelensky’s
comment that “we will fight to the end” seems to be directed at those who are
resisting capitulating to Russian demands to resolve the war in Donbas, namely
Ukraine’s Western partners and domestic pro-Western forces. In stating that he
understands “they are also suffering,” he is implying that he would end the
conflict as soon as possible if it were up to him. The statement “everyone
wants to remove them” also reveals latent hostility towards those who are
resisting capitulation. Nonetheless, we don’t believe Ukraine’s Western
partners will accept the latest proposal of Zelensky and Yermak of Ukrainian
citizens representing Donbas in the peace talks.

Kuchma’s offer to resign from the Minsk talks
confirms that he doesn’t see any prospects for peace. Kuchma said after he left the Ukrainian delegation the
first time in October 2018 that
he didn’t see any prospects, and returned in June 2019 at Zelensky’s
request when there was new hope
for a breakthrough. We share the view that no prospects for peace are in sight
without a complete Ukrainian capitulation, which Zelensky would probably pursue
but his Western partners won’t allow for.