NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. (WKYT) - Peace talks between Ukraine and Russia have attracted the attention of some Nicholasville residents.
There are an estimated 5,000 people of Ukrainian descent living around that area.
Victor Selepina is a native of Ukraine and co-owner of Kentucky Plumbing. He has lived in Nicholasville for the past twenty years. He says he’s glad to hear the talk of peace between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin but he has concerns.
“Apostle Paul says, what fellowship can light have with the darkness, and to me, I feel that you cannot make a deal with the Devil,” Victor said, referring to Putin as the Devil.
Victor, who has delivered supplies and aid to his homeland during the war is concerned that peace may come with a price tag.
“I think it’s going to be a hefty price tag, unfortunately, but you gotta do what you gotta do, but you have to be very careful what you can and cannot give up,” Victor said.
“We have the best negotiator: ‘The Art of the Deal,’ Donald Trump. He’s supposed to have the best prices, especially when truth is on our side. Why do we have to pay a price tag that doesn’t make sense to us?” said Victor’s brother, Jake Selepina,
Jake is the co-owner of the plumbing business and was also born in Ukraine. They are concerned that the price tag may include giving up land.
“Yesterday he’s saying, Donald Trump, he’s saying, ‘I don’t know if Ukraine will go back to its 2014 borders before the war.’ Hearing that is scary as a Ukrainian,” said Jake.
Jake is disappointed to hear President Trump say those words. He voted for Trump twice. He says if peace talks are in the works. Ukraine must be included in the dialogue.
“Peace talks should be the United States and Ukraine and then bringing in Russia, in my opinion,” Jake said.
In Jake’s view, peace should look like “a free Ukraine with its borders back to what they used to be.”
The Selepinas have family in the western part of Ukraine, and at last check, they are doing OK.
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