ORPresident of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky said he was ready to talk with his Russian colleague Vladimir Putin.
However, Zelensky stressed that he would not accept any ultimatums in possible peace talks between the two sides after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Zelensky told RAI public television that talks with Moscow are difficult because “every day the Russians occupy the villages, many people have left their homes, have been killed by the Russians” and Ukrainian citizens are being “tortured and murdered” which “makes things very difficult.” “.
“We are doing our best, we have passed the information to the Russians,” he said of the situation at Azovstal, where Azov Regiment soldiers were stranded at a steel plant in Mariupol.
“Switzerland and Turkey are involved in this issue, I also spoke with the President of Finland. [Sauli Ninisto]who will speak with Putin.
“I know it Insert wanted to achieve a result, but he did not succeed.
“It is not fair that we are asked to do something to save the face of the Russian president.
“Ukraine is not going to save someone’s face by paying [with its territories].”
Crimean dispute
Zelensky He went on to signal again that he did not want to recognize the independence of Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014.
“[Crimea] has always been Ukrainian territory,” he said.
“Ukraine wants peace, very normal things, such as respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, folk traditions, language.
“These may be small things, but they have been violated by Russia and must be returned.”
Zelensky’s address to Ukrainians
Zelensky acknowledged that Russia had a stronger military presence, but stated that the rest of the world supported Ukraine.
“For us, victory is to take our things, for them it is to steal something,” he said.
“We are not on an equal footing, Russia is stronger, but the world is with us, and we feel that little by little we are succeeding.
“[Italian Prime Minister Mario] dragee right, we can win because we are fighting for the truth and we are not alone.”
Zelensky also mentioned the Pope, saying Ukrainians are “very grateful” and trust Francisbut adds that one cannot “accept this image of two people walking side by side with the flags of Russia and Ukraine, because “the Russian flag is synonymous with occupation, it is the flag under which we are being killed.”