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Ukraine has made proposals both to key international partners and to allies of Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the possibility of a meeting and ending the full-scale war, according to a statement by President Volodymyr Zelensky.
"Ukraine has made proposals to both key partners and to people close to Putin. They have heard from us that a meeting is possible and that ending this war is possible. Russia must take a step toward peace," Zelensky said.
The president stressed that Ukrainian forces continue to demonstrate “the precision and strength” of Ukraine’s strikes every day. He also noted that Ukraine’s so-called long-range and medium-range sanctions are being fully implemented.
Zelensky described these actions as justified responses to Russia’s aggression.
"These are our fair responses to Russia for this war — a war that Russia started and must end. Russia must take this war away from Ukraine — we do not need it," he said.
Earlier, on June 24, Zelensky stated that if Ukraine receives the support discussed with partners at the G7 summit, conditions will be created that could force Russia to choose peace.
Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov claimed Moscow is ready to resume talks with Ukraine from the point where negotiations previously stopped. However, the head of the Russian FSB, Alexander Bortnikov, called Zelensky a “terrorist,” while still saying that he is currently the only figure in Ukraine Moscow can negotiate with.
Russian President Vladimir Putin first said there were no conditions for negotiations, but later stated that Russia is ready to resume talks based on the earlier Istanbul agreements.
