President Putin: Russia does not refuse to negotiate with Ukraine

President Russia Putin told United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on April 26: “Despite the fact that military operations are taking place, we still hope to be able to reach agreements through diplomacy. negotiate, we don’t refuse (negotiate)”.

The Secretary-General of the United Nations is visiting Moscow. During the meeting, facing Mr. Guterres on a long table in the Kremlin, President Putin said that efforts Russia-Ukraine talks was derailed by accusations against Russian forces in the town of Bucha, on the outskirts of Kiev.

“There was a provocation in the village of Bucha with which the Russian military had nothing to do with it. We know who prepared this provocation, by what means and by whom it was carried out,” Putin said.

According to AFP, the Russian leader said that he personally knows the concerns of the United Nations Secretary-General about Russia’s military activities in Ukraine and is ready to discuss this issue.

Secretary-General Guterres reiterated the call from the previous meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov for Moscow and Kiev to coordinate with the United Nations to establish aid and evacuation corridors to help civilians in Ukraine.