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Zelenskyj at the press conference
Photo: IMAGO/STR / IMAGO/NurPhoto
In a position paper, China suggests a ceasefire in Ukraine and negotiations - but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy does not believe that the document will help to bring about peace.
"It seems to me that this was not a peace plan by China," said Zelenskyj at a press conference in Kiev on the anniversary of Russia's war of aggression against his country.
But it is "not bad" that China has started talking about Ukraine.
'There are a couple of points I understand.
There are thoughts that I disagree with, that the whole world disagrees with.
But it's still something," said Zelenskyj.
It is important that the territorial integrity of states and nuclear safety are addressed.
Zelenskyy also said that he plans to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
China published the position paper on the anniversary of the Russian invasion this Friday and suggested a ceasefire and negotiations.
Russia had welcomed this, but demanded an end to Western arms deliveries to Ukraine for negotiations.
On Thursday evening, the UN General Assembly in New York, with a majority of 141 states, passed a resolution calling for the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine.
China abstained.
The President looked almost relieved
Zelenskyy held a three-hour press conference at the Intercontinental Hotel in Kiev to mark the anniversary.
SPIEGEL reporter Thore Schröder counted more than 60 camera teams.
The President seemed to make sure that journalists from all the nations represented asked questions and repeatedly answered in English.
Zelenskyj was both concentrated and occasionally joking.
He even looked almost relieved - possibly because there had been no heavy air raids on the anniversary, contrary to what many had expected.
When asked by a German journalist whether Zelenskyy now felt safer or still saw his life threatened, the President joked that he had always thought that Germans knew better what was going on in the mind of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Selenskyj wants closer contact with countries in Latin America and Africa
Zelenskyy called on the international community for broad participation in a summit on his peace plan.
"The more countries participate, the more support we have," he said.
The summit should be attended not only by Ukraine's western partners, but also by Latin American countries, African countries, as well as China and India, he said.
He even promised a visit to Latin America.
Regarding Israel, he spoke of an improvement in relations.
A date for the summit has not yet been set.
For peace, Zelenskyj demanded the complete withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukrainian national territory, the release of all prisoners of war, a tribunal against Russian war criminals and security guarantees for Ukraine.
Addressing the USA, he warned that if they did not stand by Ukraine, the war would draw closer to NATO and NATO countries could soon be attacked.
»The most important thing for me is that I don't disappoint my family«
For him personally, the worst moment of the Russian war so far was the massacre of civilians in Bucha, Zelensky said.
That was the most horrible day.
He recalled the images of dead civilians found in the Kiev suburb, some with their hands tied behind their backs.
The best moment of the war is still ahead of him, Zelenskyj said.
That would then be the "Day of Victory".
Zelenskyy also responded to a question about the biggest disappointment since the Russian invasion on February 24 a year ago.
Zelenskyy said many people had left the capital Kiev and the country without putting up any resistance.
"All these people disappointed me," he said.
At the same time, he admitted that he made mistakes from time to time.
This happens because he works from morning to night.
However, it is important not to make any fatal mistakes.
He wished that Ukrainians who had fled abroad would return to the country to help with reconstruction.
Towards the end of the event, Zelenskyy emphasized how much his wife, children and parents mean to him, even if he doesn't see them often at the moment: "The most important thing for me is that I don't disappoint my family."
kko/ths/dpa
