Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, speaking about the military-operational situation in Mariupol, expressed confidence that the closeness of negotiations between the Ukrainian and Russian leaders will depend on how long the Ukrainian Armed Forces will hold their positions in this city.
"Mariupol is the heart of this war today. It is beating. We are fighting. We are strong. If it stops beating, we will have a weaker position. The stronger our position in Mariupol, the stronger our position will be in the east of the state. And our positions will be stronger in the JFO. And, if they are stronger, then the negotiating table will be closer for us, and we will have advantages in the dialogue with the Russian Federation," Zelensky said in an interview with APNews published on Sunday.
At the same time, the head of state said, if Ukraine's position weakens, a meeting with the Russian president may not take place.
"If our situation is weak in all these directions, then we may not wait for the meeting either, because then Russia will make all those steps that may lead again to the places that we have already de-occupied. They may go for that as well. And there already our negotiating situation will be weaker. And maybe even uninteresting for Russia. It could be like that. Unfortunately. But we believe in a different result, in our victory," Zelensky added.
