Zelensky changes his mind about dialogue with Russia

Being on a visit to Brussels, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky during a briefing with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg declared Kiev’s readiness for negotiations with Moscow.

The TASS news agency notes in its message that, according to Zelensky, Ukraine is ready not only to conduct a dialogue, but also to implement the Minsk agreements, while the president specified:

“But first, we must be able to protect ourselves and become stronger economically, politically and militarily.”

Zelensky said that “Russian aggression remained a challenge,” and expressed the hope that contacts between Kiev and NATO would increase.

As follows from his words, 5 June is the day of the meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group on Donbass. Kiev on it represents new proposals aimed at resolving the conflict. The meeting is attended by the head of the General Staff Ruslan Homchak. The president did not specify other details, adding only that among the topics will be the exchange of prisoners and the cease-fire.

After the inauguration, held on May 20, Zelensky turned to the United States, calling on them to increase the sanctions pressure on Russia. Then, on May 23, the Ukrainian president publicly stated that the possibility of negotiations with Moscow is out of the question. The head of his administration emphasized that Russia itself refuses contact.

After some time, the secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine made explanations. According to them, the new president does not have contacts with Moscow; for this reason, a position should first be formed and only then negotiated. At the same time, Danyluk stressed that negotiations with representatives of Russia are possible only on Ukrainian terms and with the participation of intermediaries.