INTERNATIONAL: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday has again called for direct talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, but he has stressed Russia's negotiation requirements related to Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty are unacceptable.
Zelensky has said that he is ready for negotiations with Putin and believes that the Ukraine-Russia conflict will not end without negotiations.
"I think that we have to use any format, any chance in order to have a possibility of negotiating, possibility of talking to Putin. But if these attempts fail, that would mean that this is a third World War," he has mentioned in an interview.
The Ukrainian president, however, has stressed that some of Moscow's demands for ending the conflict including the recognition of the independence of Donetsk and Lugansk and of Russia's sovereignty over Crimea are unacceptable.
In another related development, Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has said on Sunday that Russia and Ukraine were close to an agreement on key issues which could lead to a ceasefire soon.
Turkey is ready to host a meeting between Russian and Ukrainian leaders in its capital of Ankara, according to Russian state-owned news agency Sputnik on Sunday.
Zelensky has urged more negotiations in recent days as Russia's invasion of Ukraine nears its fourth week.
Ukraine’s president has previously said that his priorities in the talks are clear: "The end of the war, security guarantees, sovereignty, restoration of territorial integrity, real guarantees for Ukraine, real protection."
"I am ready at a meeting with the president of Russia to raise the issue of occupied territories, but I am certain that a solution will not come at this meeting," Zelenskiy has also said.
The Ukrainian president said any compromises agreed with Russia to end the war would need to be voted on by Ukrainians in a referendum.
"The people will have to speak up and respond to this or that form of compromise. And what the compromises will be the subject of our talks and understanding between Ukraine and Russia," he has added.
Issues that could be raised in any referendum could concern territories occupied by Russian forces, including Crimea, or security guarantees offered to Ukraine by countries in lieu of NATO membership.
