Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelensky said Wednesday that he is ready to talk “until the end of the war” with the Russian Federation and its president, Vladimir Putin, after Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that the success of the peace negotiations will depend on Kiev's willingness to have account for the demands of Moscow.
“We are open to any format of dialogue. Whether I like it or not, I'm willing to talk. I was for the past three years and I am still ready, until the end of the war, to dialogue with the Russian Federation and its president,” Zelensky said at a press conference with the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, who is visiting the country today.
The Ukrainian president pointed out that Russia was already transmitting this message (if it was favorable to dialogue) through the media “until the offensive began” and said that, despite public signals, Moscow “is not ready for a peaceful resolution.”
In a telephone conversation with his Turkish counterpart, Mevlüt Cavusoglu, Lavrov said that “the results of the talks will depend entirely on Kiev's willingness to take into account its legitimate demands,” according to a statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry.
Lavrov made these statements after Russia handed over to Ukraine on the 15th its counterproposal to the draft agreement recently submitted by Kiev to Moscow on the security guarantees it demands in exchange for not joining NATO.
During the press conference, Zelensky spoke in similar terms when asked about the situation in Mariupol and the possibility of liberating this town besieged by Russian troops for more than a month where some 120,000 people remain, according to the Ukrainian president.
Although he ruled out the possibility of liberating this city by arms (“so far we don't have enough weapons of this type to work in this direction,” he said), he also referred to a possible diplomatic avenue.
“So far, Russia has not agreed to this. Despite public signs, when they say that they are open, willing to exchange, that the ball is in our court, they continue to play their game,” he added.
Turkey has hosted two meetings to facilitate negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, and is working to convene another meeting to end hostilities on the ground.
According to Russian diplomacy, Lavrov and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Cavusoglu exchanged views on the conflict in Ukraine and discussed the situation on the ground, particularly in the port city of Mariupol.
The heads of Russian and Turkish diplomacies discussed possible steps by diplomatic and military entities to ensure the safety of civilians, including foreigners still in combat zones.
(With information from EFE)
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