KIEV: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his country is ready to resume negotiations with Russia on resolving the war whenever Moscow's soldiers return to the positions they occupied before the February 24 invasion. "They must retire to the interim contact lines or division lines, and forces must be withdrawn there. Then we can begin full-scale negotiations "While speaking to journalists, Zelensky said.
"The first step in ending the war between Russia and Ukraine should be to restore the situation as of February 23," he stated, referring to the day before the conflict began. "I was chosen by the Ukrainian people as President of Ukraine, not as President of some sort of mini-Ukraine. This is a crucial factor to remember." According to the BBC, the reference to the circumstances on February 23 signals Ukraine may not insist on retaking Crimea before reaching an agreement with Russia.
Russia grabbed the peninsula eight years ago.
"Despite the fact that they burned all our bridges, I believe not all the bridges are yet gone, figuratively speaking," the President stated, calling for the restart of diplomatic engagement between Russia and Ukraine. In late March, the Ukrainian and Russian delegations convened their most recent round of in-person peace talks in Istanbul, Turkey.
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