Last night, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged that the country could be given a neutral status in a deal with Russia.
Russian media, who had been warned to not report the interview, were told by him that such a deal would need to be signed by third parties.
Zelensky claimed that Russia invaded Ukraine and caused destruction in Russian-speaking areas in Ukraine. He also said the damage was more severe than those in Chechnya.
Security guarantees, neutrality, and non-nuclear state of our state. We’re ready to do it. He said that this is the most crucial point.
He said no peace deal would be possible without a ceasefire and troop withdrawals.
Zelensky stated that all entrances and exits to Mariupol were blocked.
“The port has been mined. He said that there is a humanitarian crisis in the city, as it’s impossible for people to get food, water and medicine.
“I don’t know who the Russian Army has ever treated this way,” he stated, noting that the destruction volume ‘cannot’ be compared with the Russian wars in Chechnya.
It came as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had a telephone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin today where he stressed the need for a ceasefire in Ukraine, his office said.
Although they agreed to meet again in Istanbul next year, the leaders did not specify when.
The statement also stated that Erdogan called for improvement of humanitarian conditions in the region.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (pictured) has said he spoke with Russian president Vladimir Putin and stressed the need for a ceasefire in Ukraine to him
President Vladimir Putin (pictured) agreed with Erdogan that the next peace talks between Russian and Ukrainian should be held in Istanbul
David Arakhamia, the Ukrainian negotiator, stated earlier on Sunday that face-to-face negotiations between Russia and Ukraine will be held in Turkey from March 28-30.
The chief Russian negotiator stated that the talks in person would start on Tuesday.
Erdogan declared this week that Volodymyr Zelesky, Ukrainian President, was smartly leading by his comments about the need to hold a referendum on Russia-Ukraine compromises.
While on his way back from Brussels’ NATO Summit, the Turkish President stated that he could not place sanctions against Russia because it has energy requirements and cooperate.
President Volodymyr Zelensky (pictured) said on Monday any compromises agreed with Russia to end the war would need to be voted upon in a referendum
Leonid Pasechnik, self-proclaimed leader of the Luhansk People’s Republic (pictured), suggested that the region might hold a referendum on joining Russia in the near future
An official from Ukraine has stated that Putin seeks to divide Ukraine into two. Meanwhile, separatists in the rebel-held Luhansk state they will hold a referendum about joining Russia.
Moscow requested Ukraine to recognize Russia’s sovereignty in Crimea, as well as the independent Donetsk-Luhansk region.
Leonid Pasechnik (head of self-proclaimed Luhansk People’s Republic) said that it might hold a referendum within the next few months.
Ukraine claimed that such a vote wouldn’t have legal foundation and promised a total guerrilla war to stop the country from splitting.
Kyrylo Budanov (head of Ukrainian military intelligence) stated that it was an attempt to establish North and South Koreas in Ukraine. This statement refers to Korea’s division after World War Two.
Russia supports the rebels of Luhansk, Donetsk and neighbouring Donetsk since an insurgency there erupted in 2014. This was shortly after Moscow annexed the Crimean Peninsula.
Vladimir Putin declared the east regions of Luhansk (and Donetsk), where pro-Russian separatists fought Ukrainian forces in 2014.
Putin pretended to be protecting the eastern Ukrainian regions in order to launch their barbaric invasion of Ukraine.
Ukraine stated repeatedly that Russia will not annexe any part of their territory. This is the most difficult aspect of peace talks between Moscow and Ukraine.
Oleg Nikolenko from Ukraine’s foreign ministry stated in a statement that all fake referendums conducted in temporary occupied territory are invalid and have no legal validity.
“Russia will instead face a stronger international response, further eroding its isolation.”