KIEV: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has revealed the kinds of events that could compel his country to withdraw peace talks with Russia.

As per report from the Tussian Times, Zelensky was asked how Kiev would respond to prospective independence referendums in Russian-controlled territory during a news conference held at one of Kiev's metro stations amid the ongoing Russian war in Ukraine. Zelensky admitted that it would compel him to stop any discussions with Moscow.

"If our people are destroyed in Mariupol, if a pseudo-referendum is declared in any new pseudo-republics of Ukraine," Zelensky warned.

It was two days ago that the Mariupol was captured. President Vladimir Putin, on the other hand, put off the assault on the Azovstal factory, which is the final stronghold of Ukrainian forces in the vital port city, including neo-Nazi Azov regiment fighters. Instead, Putin ordered Russian troops to "close the region so that not even a fly can get through."

Meanwhile, Zelensky confirmed that Ukraine is currently unable to recapture Mariupol militarily, and that the holed-up fighters in the city are aware of this. He restated his desire to meet with Vladimir Putin in person, saying that "the war can be stopped by the person who started it."

Zelensky  said direct negotiations are a more successful method to achieve peace than speaking through mediators. "I want to put an end to the war. There are two options: diplomatic and military. Any healthy person chooses the diplomatic way because he realises that it can save millions of lives, even if it is difficult " Zelensky said.

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