As the government of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky faces an especially challenging period, former president and key political rival Petro Poroshenko has reacted with strong remarks.
Poroshenko stated that Ukraine needs both internal and international unity to survive, stressing that the country’s land is “not for sale at any price.”
He was asked whether he felt U.S. President Donald Trump was effectively forcing Ukraine to surrender, considering peace plan clauses that reportedly include the concession of Ukrainian territory, according to Sky News.
Poroshenko, who served as president from 2014 to 2019, emphasized that Ukraine “can never return to being a Russian colony. We firmly confirm that Ukrainian territory is not for sale, at any price.”
He further underlined that no compromise can be made on proposals that would restrict the size of Ukraine’s armed forces.
Regarding Trump, Poroshenko attempted to remain diplomatic, saying that Ukraine had worked well with the American president for years and praising him for imposing some of the first sanctions against Russia.
However, he added that negotiations about Ukraine must include Ukrainians, and the same applies to NATO talks — “nothing is agreed until everything is agreed.”
Poroshenko was also asked about the ongoing corruption scandal in Ukraine and was reminded that it is “no secret” he does not like the current president, Zelensky.
He responded by saying that “only internal unity can save our nation. Only international unity can save our nation,” while praising anti-corruption institutions that he said he had established himself.
