According to the Financial Times, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has reiterated his willingness to meet with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin for peace talks.
According to the publication, Zelensky stated that “success must be gained on the battlefield,” but that he was still willing to meet with Putin for peace talks.
A stalemate in the war with Russia, he added, was “not an option.” According to Zelensky, any battle must come to an end at the negotiating table.
The President of Ukraine further stated that he has witnessed attempts by Western countries to negotiate ceasefire arrangements without Ukraine’s participation.
“We need continued interest from the West, the Western support for Ukraine’s sovereignty. There can never be negotiations behind Ukraine’s back,” Zelensky said.
Previously, Zelensky acknowledged Moscow’s military dominance over Kyiv in terms of technical equipment, therefore ruling out the idea of an offensive by the Ukrainian army. He appealed to Western countries to extend weaponry supply to Kyiv once more.