No resolution to territorial issues without Putin meeting — Zelenskyy
Photo: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (facebook.com/zelenskyy.official)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his interview with Cesky Rozhlas that resolving territorial disputes with Russia is impossible without a direct meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
According to him, only technical negotiation teams cannot resolve territorial disputes.
"At the very least, we must have the ability, in one format or another, to maintain contact with Russia, with its leader. Without such a format, in my view, our teams will not be able to reach agreements on territories," Zelenskyy said.
He stressed that a trilateral meeting is necessary, since part of Ukraine's security guarantees includes EU membership and support from the Coalition of the Willing.
Ukrainian President later reiterated that a personal meeting with Putin is essential to resolve territorial issues.
"Currently, there is a 20-point plan to end the war, and it contains these painful issues you mentioned regarding territories. I want to emphasize again that I do not believe anyone other than the leaders can resolve them," he said.
Ukrainian leader also highlighted the importance of having the 20-point peace plan signed not only by the US, Ukraine, and Russia, but also by the EU, as the document envisages Ukraine's EU membership.
Peace talks and possible meeting with Putin
Over the past weekend, Ukraine, the US, and Russia held talks in the UAE for the first time. The US side described the meeting positively, while Ukrainian called it substantive.
Ahead of the talks, President Zelenskyy said territorial issues, particularly those concerning the Donbas, would be central.
Following the meeting, Axios sources were reportedly so satisfied with the outcome that they suggested a Zelenskyy–Putin meeting could take place soon.
On January 29, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia would only consider Moscow as a location for a meeting with Zelenskyy. The Ukrainian President categorically rejected a meeting in Moscow and publicly invited Putin to Kyiv instead.
