Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed confidence in the willingness to engage in any format of peace negotiations with Russia, but emphasized that this requires diplomatic readiness on the part of the Russian authorities. He stated this during a conversation with journalists.
This is reported by Kyiv24
“Regarding direct negotiations, I honestly said this – I am not afraid of any option or format of negotiations with the Russians – with mediation, without mediation, with the USA, with Europe. It is preferable that any negotiations be substantive. How can one talk directly with ballistic missiles? Today, it is simply talking with missiles and terrorists,” Zelensky replied.
Zelensky also noted that Ukraine is ready for an unconditional ceasefire, after which negotiations can begin: “But for this, the Russians need to not just be killers, but to be ready for diplomacy,” he added.
In recent weeks, there have been several meetings and phone calls between Ukraine and the USA, as well as separately between Russia and the USA regarding a ceasefire. In particular, on March 11, US representatives managed to obtain Ukraine’s agreement for a 30-day truce. Putin did not reject this idea but put forward his conditions.
In February, the Ukrainian president stated that he was ready to sit at the negotiating table with Russian President Vladimir Putin if that was the only option. At the same time, the Russian president had previously stated that he does not consider Zelensky a legitimate president of Ukraine, so in his opinion, Zelensky does not have the right to sign a peace agreement. In response to these words, Zelensky emphasized that Putin “is afraid of negotiations.”