Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russia must stop bombing Ukrainian cities before meaningful cease-fire talks can begin.
"You have to at least stop bombing people, just stop bombing, and then sit down at the negotiating table," Zelensky said in an interview with Reuters on Tuesday.
According to the website of the Office of the President, the head of state added that he does not have high expectations from the current format of Ukrainian-Russian cease-fire talks, but the civilized world should put Russian President Vladimir Putin at the negotiating table before it is too late.
"I don't expect big results, because faith in such a format, starting with Minsk, is lost. There is a desire here for people to end this war. And in this desire, in addition to the words "I wish", "we want" or constant calls that "Ukraine does not comply with Minsk", you still need to work every day. Sit down, look for a dialogue," said Zelensky.
Zelensky also said that he did not see any specifics from the first meeting of the Ukrainian and Russian delegations, held near the border of Ukraine and the Republic of Belarus.
"I do not yet feel from this composition and this first meeting any concreteness. The only thing is one percent that they will be able to meet and talk some steps forward," - said the president.He stressed that Ukraine will fight against the occupant as long as necessary and expressed the hope that the war will not last.
https://www.reuters.com/world/ukraines-president-russia-stop-your-bombs-before-ceasefire-talks-can
"The world already understands that it is necessary to put the president of the Russian Federation at the negotiating table, as long as they are ready to sit down with him. I think so," noted Vladimir Zelensky, noting that he could not say how long it would take.
"It is no longer measured in money. It is, unfortunately, measured by people. You can never have too many people," he added, stressing that because of the war and Russia's invasion, Ukraine has no time for long bureaucratic procedures and delaying the resolution of issues, because the war continues daily people are dying and help is needed.
"There is specificity in this war. Concreteness to survive and do something. That's why we all act fast. That's why the army does things quickly. That's why we defend our state quickly. And in the same way, if they want to help us, everybody has to act fast," he added.
