Zelensky: Ukraine will insist in talks with Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said late Sunday, March 13 that Ukrainian officials negotiating with their Russian counterparts will insist on direct talks between the two countries leaders that would lead to peace.

The next round of talks on the war in Ukraine between the two neighbors is scheduled to be held early Monday morning via closed-circuit television.

Although officials have recently given optimistic assessments, the negotiations have not yielded positive results.

Ukraine has repeatedly called for direct talks between Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin, noting that all final decisions are made by the Russian leader.

In his video daily speech, Zelensky said that the Ukrainian delegation has a clear task, which is to do everything to ensure the meeting of the two presidents, noting that he is confident that his meeting with Putin is awaited by the people.

Zelensky said that he hopes through negotiations that Ukraine will obtain the necessary result for peace and security.

Russia said earlier that the Kremlin would not refuse such a meeting to discuss “specific” issues, but no further details were provided.