MOSCOW, November 7. /TASS/. Ukraine does not want its allies to assist in arranging talks with Russia, as it plans to decide for itself when to start them, Vladimir Zelensky said at the European Political Community Summit in Budapest.
"We need a sufficient amount of weapons, not support in negotiations," he said in a speech that was posted to his Telegram channel. "Only Ukraine itself should decide what will and what will not be on the agenda for ending the conflict."
Zelensky mentioned that Ukraine had prepared its own settlement plan — the so-called "peace formula" — and planned to continue pushing for its implementation. He accused the European leaders gathered at the summit of seeking opportunities to make peace with Russia.
"Hugs are not going to help. Some of you have been offering hugs for 20 years, and things have only gotten worse," he said.
Zelensky did not soften his traditional demands to join NATO, hand over frozen Russian assets to Ukraine, and impose new sanctions against Russia.
"We need leverage of influence," he said.
Zelensky spoke after the US presidential election was called in favor of Donald Trump, who has repeatedly pledged to end the Ukrainian conflict before his inauguration. The Wall Street Journal published his possible settlement plan, which includes freezing the current front line and a moratorium on Ukraine's accession to NATO. Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the plan was too abstract.