We are open to any form of dialogue. Like it or not, I’m ready to talk. Zelensky said at a press conference alongside the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, who is visiting Ukraine today.
Zelensky responded to Russian diplomat Sergei Lavrov, who announced today, in a telephone conversation with his Turkish counterpart, Mevlut Cavusoglu, that the outcome of the peace talks will depend on Kyiv’s willingness to take into account Moscow’s demands.
“Regarding the prospects for the Russian-Ukrainian negotiation process, Russia’s consistent position was confirmed: the outcome of the talks will depend entirely on Kyiv’s willingness to take into account our legitimate demands,” the minister said, according to the statement. Statement issued by the Russian Foreign Ministry.
The Ukrainian president stressed that Russia was already conveying this same message, in favor of dialogue, through the media, “until the beginning of the offensive.”
Despite the public indications, Moscow “is not ready for a peaceful solution”, however, the Ukrainian president considered.
The Russian Foreign Minister’s statement comes after Russia handed Ukraine, on April 15, its counter-proposal to the draft agreement recently submitted by Kyiv to Moscow on security guarantees, which it demands in exchange for not joining NATO.
