Kalinak: If Zelenskyy Answers 'Yes' to Trump's Questions, USA Will Broker Peace

(STVR, 'O 5 minut 12', 17 August) If Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy answers "yes" to many questions at his upcoming meeting with US President Donald Trump, the United States will subsequently mediate a trilateral meeting, Defence Minister Robert Kalinak (Smer-SD) said on STVR's discussion programme 'O 5 minut 12' (Five Minutes to Twelve) on Sunday. "It's clear to me that if President Zelenskyy answers 'yes' to many questions on Monday (18 August), the USA will then mediate and organise a trilateral meeting and it will be concluded, since otherwise we'll watch Russians gradually moving forward despite all efforts by Europe," stated Kalinak. His opponent on the show, Christian Democrats (KDH) leader Milan Majersky stated that any agreements must be in favour of Ukraine and its citizens. He views it unacceptable for territorial or political concessions to be decided without the direct consent of Kiev. "Ukraine must agree that it can make some concessions, neither the EU, nor Trump or [Russian President Vladimir] Putin can make this decision for them," he said. Kalinak finds it crucial that the leaders are heading towards a peace agreement and not a ceasefire. "And equally important is Vladimir Putin's statement that we must eliminate all causes of the conflict, some of which we know, for example, Ukraine's NATO membership, as well as some other things concerning relations to minorities and the like," said Kalinak. Every peace must contain a certain compromise, said Kalinak, who views the return of Ukraine to the pre-2014 borders as unrealistic. In reaction, Majersky said that Ukraine gave up its nuclear weapons in the 1990s in exchange for security guarantees and territorial integrity, which Russia is violating today. ko