Zelenskyy Urges "End the War"... Repeatedly Calls on Putin for Peace Talks

President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine and President Vladimir Putin of Russia
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Nayeon] Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the 23rd (local time) repeatedly urged Russian President Vladimir Putin for peace talks.

According to CNN and others, President Zelensky emphasized his willingness to meet with President Putin during a press conference held at a subway station in the capital Kyiv, stating, "I have no right to be afraid," showing that the Ukrainian people are not afraid of the Russian troops.

He also urged to sit down to end the war, which has entered its third month, saying, "Whoever started the war can end the war."

He stressed, "If it can lead to peace negotiations, I am not afraid to meet President Putin," adding, "It's not that I want to meet, but that we must meet. Only then can the war be ended diplomatically."

He continued, "There are diplomatic methods and military methods. A healthy and sensible person always chooses diplomatic methods," explaining that this is because "even if it is difficult, it can prevent the loss of thousands or tens of thousands of lives."

However, President Zelensky expressed caution, saying, "I trust our allies, but I do not trust Russia," pointing out that "their words and actions do not match."

He also declared that if Ukrainian soldiers who continue the last resistance at the Mariupol steel plant, which is virtually occupied by Russian forces, die, "no negotiations will proceed."

Furthermore, he stated that if Russia pushes for a 'fake referendum' regarding annexation in the southern city of Kherson, which is occupied by Russia, he will not continue talks.

Addressing UN Secretary-General Ant?nio Guterres, who plans to visit Moscow before Kyiv, he criticized, "Going to Russia first and then coming to Ukraine is simply wrong," adding, "There is neither fairness nor logic in the order of the visits."

He emphasized, saying, "More than 1,000 civilians have died in Kyiv alone. The war is happening in Ukraine. There are no corpses on the streets of Moscow. It is logical to meet the Ukrainian people first and observe the consequences of the invasion."

Secretary-General Guterres is scheduled to visit Moscow on the 26th and Kyiv on the 28th to mediate to stop the war. In Moscow, he will hold working-level talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and have lunch together, then meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. In Kyiv, he will meet with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, President Zelensky, and others.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.