"The enemy does not give us gifts, does not make "gestures of goodwill." Zelensky on the retreat of the Russian army from Kherson

In his evening address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky commented on the Russian Defense Ministry's announcement of the withdrawal of troops from Kherson.

Maybe it doesn't sound like what someone is expecting now, Maybe not like what's on the news. But you have to understand: no one just leaves anywhere if they don't feel strong. The enemy doesn't give us gifts, doesn't make "goodwill gestures." We fight for all of this. And when you fight, you have to understand that every step is always resistance to the enemy, it's always the loss of our heroes' lives. That's why we move very carefully, without emotions, without unnecessary risk.

Earlier, adviser to the head of the Ukrainian presidential office Mykhailo Podolyak said that Ukraine does not see signs that Russia is leaving Kherson without a fight. A group of Russian troops is still in the city, and Russia continues to pull in additional reserves, Podolyak noted.

In an interview with the Current Time TV channel, he added that the surrender of Kherson “is not the point after which the negotiation process will truly be possible.”

I emphasize once again that Russia wants to re-establish itself in the Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant, establish itself in the North Crimean Canal, establish itself on the left bank of the Kherson region in order to secure Crimea. It is nonsense to talk about a serious negotiation process after the liberation of Kherson, after the liberation of Lugansk, and so on. No. President Zelensky clearly states: leave the territory of Ukraine - after that, naturally, the negotiation process is possible.

• On November 7, Volodymyr Zelenskynamed five conditions for negotiations with Russia: “restoration of territorial integrity, respect for the UN Charter, compensation for all damage caused by the war, punishment of every war criminal, and guarantees that this will not happen again.” However, he did not mention his previous demand that negotiations with the current Russian President Vladimir Putin are impossible.
• Politico sources claim that Zelensky changed his position on negotiations with Russia after the Biden administration pushed him to do so. According to NBC sources , US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, who arrived in Kiev last week, was "testing the waters" for a diplomatic solution to the conflict with Russia.
• Meduza's sources said that the Kremlin views the surrender of Kherson as a "military necessity" and "an invitation to negotiations." Meduza previously wrote that Moscow would like to achieve a temporary ceasefire, which would allow the army to prepare for a new full-scale offensive. Kiev and Europe said that Putin has not abandoned plans to seize Ukraine and is not truly ready for negotiations.