The President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky is ready at a meeting with the President of Russia Vladimir Putin to discuss the issue of territories. This was reported by the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Sergiy Kyslytsya, in an interview given to the NBC News TV channel, it was reported.
According to him, Zelensky acts in accordance with Ukraine’s legislation and public opinion. According to Kyslytsya, the Ukrainian public is “absolutely against giving territories in exchange for peace.” At the same time, he noted that the president indicated his readiness to raise the topic only in a direct conversation.
“I think President Zelensky clearly explained his readiness to discuss this with President Putin,” he said. Kyslytsya additionally stated that the negotiation process is moving “gradually,” and work is being carried out on a preliminary draft regarding security guarantees.
Earlier, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had said that both Ukraine and Russia would have to agree to make concessions in order to conclude a peace agreement. According to him, “if both sides do not give any preferences, this is not peace, this is called surrender.”
At the same time, the representative of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sergey Lavrov, stated that a meeting between Zelensky and Putin is not planned yet, since “the agenda is not ready.” The Ukrainian side, however, reports that after the latest contacts in Washington, work continues regarding security guarantees and the political approach.
In short, while Kyiv’s position remains within the framework of the law and public will, it shows openness to discuss the issue of territories only at a high-level direct meeting; in the external field, work continues on broad guarantees and a step-by-step political solution.
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