Zelenskyy rejects talks with Putin: 'He already demonstrated dialogue format in port of Odesa'
Photo: President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Getty Images)
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has already demonstrated in the port of Odesa the format of the dialogue he wants to have with Ukraine, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
"It seems to me that the example you gave with Odesa shows that he (Putin - ed.) is not interested in any negotiations. And he has already demonstrated the format of the dialog in the port of Odesa. And secondly, we went through the Normandy format, which we had, we went through it," he says.
Zelenskyy emphasizes that there were a large number of different meetings not only in Normandy but also at a lower technical level in the Minsk process.
"And there were a large number of negotiations, about 200, more than a hundred for sure. And for him, for Putin, this is like oxygen, this pause. Understand that this pause is not peace talks, it is a breathing space for him, an additional opportunity, an additional time to restore the combat capability of his army, which is in a difficult situation today," Zelenskyy says.
He adds that the Russian dictator will use the possible pause in hostilities to train mobilized soldiers, brainwash them with information, and increase the production of shells and military equipment.
"North Korean shells are striking us. North Korean artillery is striking us. North Korean missiles are attacking us. This does not mean that he is not alone but with many partners. No, it means that he has a shortage. There is a shortage of appropriate ammunition," Zelenskyy says.
He emphasizes that if there is a pause, it will be the next Minsk, which will allow Russia to prepare.
"And this time to come with the full occupation of Ukraine, but not to make the mistakes it made at the very beginning," Zelenskyy says.
Russian strike on Odesa on March 6
On March 6, the Russian occupiers launched a missile attack on Odesa. At the time, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis were in the city.
Commenting on the strike, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he had seen and heard the Russian attack.
Pushing Ukraine to negotiate with Russia
During the two years of full-scale Russian aggression, Ukraine has been pushed several times to negotiate with Russia. A new stage of pushing has recently begun. In particular, China has once again sent its special representative to Russia, Ukraine, and the EU, who is responsible for a "diplomatic settlement."
After his meeting with the Ukrainian president, Turkish President Recep Erdogan proposed holding a "peace" summit with the participation of Ukraine and Russia. Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejected the proposal and invited Türkiye to participate in the Global Peace Summit initiated by Ukraine.
