Russia reminds mediators to note that President Zelensky's powers are expiring
(Baonghean.vn) - Russia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya warned that after the Ukrainian President loses power, signing documents with him will be meaningless.
TASS news agency reported on May 21 that at the UN Security Council meeting on Western arms supplies to Kiev on May 20 (Washington time), Russia's permanent representative to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya pointed out that all mediators working towards a peaceful solution to the conflict in Ukraine need to take into account the fact that President Volodymyr Zelensky's mandate expires on May 21. Therefore, any document signed after May 21 is meaningless.
"It is important for those who are trying to resolve the crisis in Ukraine through diplomatic means to know this. We have never abandoned diplomacy, unlike the Ukrainian leader, who has legally banned negotiations with Russia. However, May 21 is the last day of Zelensky's legal term in office according to the Ukrainian constitution. Mediators must take this into account, because signing any document will lose its legitimacy," said representative Vasily Nebenzya.
The head of the Russian delegation also pointed out that “any potential negotiations must be based on fair consideration of Russia's security concerns and on new territorial realities.”
"Without eliminating the root causes of the Ukrainian conflict, it will be impossible to ensure lasting peace. We are ready to work with those who share this view, and also with those who do not want it. At the same time, the Western alliance and the Zelensky government are collectively responsible for the senseless destruction of tens of thousands of Ukrainians who do not want the war to continue," Vasily Nebenzia stressed.
According to the Ukrainian Constitution, Volodymy Zelensky’s presidential powers, which are for a five-year term (2019-2024), will expire on the night of May 21. However, under wartime conditions, Ukraine does not hold presidential elections. The opposition in the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) asserts that after May 21, Mr. Zelensky will no longer be the legitimate president.
Former Ukrainian Ambassador Vadim Prystaiko said that Kiev's Western partners are also concerned about this legal conflict.
Meanwhile, on May 20, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev made a statement that Mr. Volodymyr Zelensky is "a legitimate military target of Russia".
