Zelenskyy says Ukraine open to talks with Putin but Moscow sets new demands
Photo: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Ukraine is ready for a meeting with Russia at the leadership level. However, Moscow continues its aggression and puts forward new conditions, stated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The head of state said he held a phone conversation with UN Secretary-General António Guterres. Zelenskyy thanked the Secretary-General for his important words of sympathy and solidarity with Ukrainian families who lost their loved ones in Russia’s strike on the night of August 28.
During the call, Zelenskyy and Guterres discussed the steps needed to stop the killing of people in the war.
"Ukraine is ready for a meeting at the level of leaders. Only in this format can all the most important issues be addressed. Yet Russia, in response, only puts forward new conditions and continues its aggression," Zelenskyy stated.
Zelenskyy clarified that the UN Secretary-General also maintains the position that a ceasefire is necessary as the first step toward real peace.
They also discussed preparations for the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, where Ukraine plans to hold important events.
Meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin
On August 15, US President Donald Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The American leader emphasized that one of his goals was to organize a trilateral meeting with the participation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Earlier this week, Trump acknowledged that Putin does not want to meet with Zelenskyy because he doesn’t like him.
Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Putin is ready to meet with Zelenskyy, but only if all the issues to be discussed by the leaders are well prepared.
