Today at 22:20
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Vladimir Putin’s reaction to his open letter demonstrated that Russia continues to favor war over a peaceful resolution.
Speaking in his nightly address, Zelenskyy described the Kremlin’s response as unconvincing and indicative of Moscow’s unwillingness to bring the conflict to an end, UATV English reports.
“Unfortunately, Russia is once again opting for war — everyone heard today’s response. It was a weak reaction. Putin simply has no intention of ending this war. I believe many people around the world were disappointed by what they heard. He does not want change and refuses to acknowledge that this war benefits only him and those who profit from it. Their satisfaction was obvious today. That means Russia must face greater pressure and fewer financial resources,” Zelenskyy said.
The Ukrainian president also revealed that preparations are underway for a series of meetings with European and American partners.
According to Zelenskyy, he had discussed upcoming diplomatic efforts with Ukraine’s foreign policy team, including several formats of engagement with European allies and consultations with the United States.
“We know that our European partners are preparing additional measures to support Ukraine,” he noted.
In addition, Zelenskyy said he had reviewed a report from the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and approved several new operations proposed by the agency.
Earlier on Friday, Putin commented on Zelenskyy’s public invitation to talks, saying he currently saw no reason to meet with the Ukrainian president. He argued that Ukraine’s objective was merely to stop Russian military advances, while Russia was allegedly focused on reaching agreements.
On June 4, Zelenskyy published an open letter inviting Putin to hold direct talks aimed at finding a path toward ending the war. He suggested that the meeting could take place in a neutral country traditionally involved in international mediation efforts, including Switzerland, Turkey, or states in the Arab world. At the same time, he emphasized that negotiations in either Kyiv or Moscow were not being considered.
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