Volodymyr Zelensky is ready to speak directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but “only without any intermediaries”, the Ukrainian President has told Italian TV channel Rai 1.
Zelensky said he would speak only with Putin, “on the terms of dialogue, not on the terms of ultimatums”.
He said “the first clear step” to holding talks would be when Russia withdraws its troops from Ukraine.
He added that the more cases of “blatant brutality” by Russians that appear, such as those in Bucha, Borodyanka or Mariupol, the less tolerant he will be to any negotiations with Russia.
Ukraine and Russia haven’t held face-to-face talks since 29 March and Moscow’s chief negotiator, Vladimir Medinsky, has since said peace talks were being held remotely.
BBC