Zelensky: "Cannot tolerate Russian mass killings, but peace negotiations continue"

by Kim Yuri

Published 05 Apr.2022 21:00(KST)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has indicated his intention to continue peace negotiations despite allegations of a civilian massacre by Russian forces.

According to major foreign media, on the 5th (local time), President Zelensky stated in an interview with domestic journalists that although accepting peace talks with Russia is not easy, "I think we have no other choice," expressing this stance.

He emphasized that what happened in Bucha is unforgivable, but Ukraine and Russia must make the difficult choice to pursue dialogue. This reflects his willingness to continue peace negotiations with Russia, separate from the allegations of a civilian massacre in Bucha.

Earlier, U.S. daily The New York Times (NYT) and others suggested that the incident could put peace talks between the two sides at risk. President Zelensky, who visited Bucha the day before, also defined it as a massacre and showed a tough stance that peace negotiations had become more difficult. The softening of President Zelensky’s tone appears to be due to a realistic recognition that there is no other way to end the war but through negotiations.

Ukraine recently claimed that it recovered 410 civilian bodies in the small town of Bucha near the capital Kyiv (Kiyev), which was recently retaken from Russian forces, and accused the Russian military of committing a civilian massacre.

The West, led by the United States, views Russia as having committed war crimes and has begun discussions on additional sanctions. Major European countries such as Germany, France, and Italy have taken measures including expelling many Russian diplomats from their countries. However, the Russian government has completely denied the related allegations.