|
Kyiv,
Mar
9:
President
Volodymyr
Zelenskyy
said
he
is
no
longer
pressing
for
NATO
membership
for
Ukraine,
a
delicate
issue
that
was
one
of
Russia’s
stated
reasons
for
invading
its
pro-Western
neighbor.
In
another
apparent
nod
aimed
at
placating
Moscow,
Zelensky
said
he
is
open
to
“compromise”
on
the
status
of
two
breakaway
pro-Russian
territories
that
President
Vladimir
Putin
recognized
as
independent
just
before
unleashing
the
invasion
on
February
24.
“I
have
cooled
down
regarding
this
question
a
long
time
ago
after
we
understood
that
…
NATO
is
not
prepared
to
accept
Ukraine,”
Zelensky
said
in
an
interview
aired
Monday
night
on
ABC
News.
“The
alliance
is
afraid
of
controversial
things,
and
confrontation
with
Russia,”
the
president
added.
The
Ukrainian
President
evoked
British
wartime
leader
Winston
Churchill
as
he
told
the
U.K.
Parliament
that
his
country
would
fight
Russia’s
invasion
to
the
end
in
Ukraine’s
cities,
fields
and
riverbanks.
Zelenskyy
told
British
lawmakers
“we
will
not
give
up
and
we
will
not
lose,”
in
a
speech
that
evoked
Churchill’s
stirring
“never
surrender”
speech
during
the
darkest
days
of
World
War
II.
Speaking
by
video
from
Ukraine
to
a
packed
House
of
Commons
chamber,
Zelenskyy
urged
Britain
to
increase
sanctions
on
Russia
and
to
recognize
Russia
as
“a
terrorist
country.”
Tuesday’s
address
was
the
first
time
a
foreign
leader
was
allowed
to
speak
in
the
House
of
Commons.
Screens
and
simultaneous
translation
headsets
were
set
up
in
the
House
of
Commons
so
lawmakers
could
hear
him.
(AP)
Story first published: Wednesday, March 9, 2022, 0:37 [IST]
For Quick Alerts Subscribe Now For Quick Alerts ALLOW NOTIFICATIONS | Published: Wednesday, March 9, 2022, 0:37 [IST] Kyiv, Mar 9: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he is no longer pressing for NATO membership for Ukraine, a delicate issue that was one of Russia’s stated reasons for invading its pro-Western neighbor. In another apparent nod aimed at placating Moscow, Zelensky said he is open to “compromise” on the status of two breakaway pro-Russian territories that President Vladimir Putin recognized as independent just before unleashing the invasion on February 24. “I have cooled down regarding this question a long time ago after we understood that … NATO is not prepared to accept Ukraine,” Zelensky said in an interview aired Monday night on ABC News. “The alliance is afraid of controversial things, and confrontation with Russia,” the president added. The Ukrainian President evoked British wartime leader Winston Churchill as he told the U.K. Parliament that his country would fight Russia’s invasion to the end in Ukraine’s cities, fields and riverbanks. Zelenskyy told British lawmakers “we will not give up and we will not lose,” in a speech that evoked Churchill’s stirring “never surrender” speech during the darkest days of World War II. Speaking by video from Ukraine to a packed House of Commons chamber, Zelenskyy urged Britain to increase sanctions on Russia and to recognize Russia as “a terrorist country.” Tuesday’s address was the first time a foreign leader was allowed to speak in the House of Commons. Screens and simultaneous translation headsets were set up in the House of Commons so lawmakers could hear him. (AP) Story first published: Wednesday, March 9, 2022, 0:37 [IST]