Russia-Ukraine war: Mr. Zelensky unexpectedly set the conditions for negotiations with President Putin

Negotiating conditions

President Zelensky spoke at an online meeting sponsored by Britain’s Chatham House on Friday, May 6. There, the Ukrainian leader told attendees that Ukraine has a bright future and will regain the territories that have fallen into the hands of Russian forces.

“I was elected President of Ukraine by the Ukrainian people, not the President of some miniature Ukraine. This is a very important point, and I want some agreement on negotiations to prevent the killings,” Zelensky stressed.

“We can use diplomatic channels to regain our territory,” the Ukrainian leader added. At the same time, he reiterated his desire to re-establish Ukraine’s borders in the face of conflict with Russia and resettle currently displaced Ukrainians.

“They (Russia) have to stay out of the line of communication, and they should withdraw. In that situation, we should be able to start discussing things normally. I realize that, despite the fact that they destroyed all of our bridges, but I think not all of them have been destroyed – figuratively speaking,” Zelensky said.

The Ukrainian president also condemned Russia’s destruction of the port city of Mariupol, stressing that negotiations would not progress “if they killed those who could be exchanged” as prisoners of war.

“If Russia kills them, I don’t think we can have any diplomatic talks after that,” Zelensky said.

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has entered its 72nd day. While Russia is ramping up its offensive to gain control of eastern and southern Ukraine, Ukrainian forces are still struggling to resist.

President Zelensky said all works in Mariupol were “completely destroyed”, leaving only the Azovstal iron and steel plant in the southeast.

“The city has been devastated, there are no buildings left. Everything has been completely destroyed,” President Zelensky said of the situation in Mariupol.

The Azovstal Iron and Steel Plant on the outskirts of Mariupol is considered the last defensive bastion of Ukrainian forces inside the city. About 200 civilians are believed to be sheltering in the underground bunker below the plant.

Russian forces are said to be actively preparing to hold a military parade on the streets of Mariupol, where they simultaneously changed traffic signs and erected a statue of a Ukrainian woman holding a Soviet flag in what Ukraine calls what Ukraine The Square of the Liberation Warriors while Russia and the separatists are called Komsomol Lenin Square.

Meanwhile, Russian Senator Andrey Turchak announced that “Russia will have a permanent presence” in Kherson, southern Ukraine and “there is no going back to the way it was before”. Mr. Turchak confirmed that the people of Kherson will decide the status of the province, and said Russia will help solve local problems.

General Shoigu: The West is “stuffing Ukraine with weapons”

While the prospect of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine is still dim, the West continues to provide arms to Ukraine. German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht has just confirmed that Germany will deliver to Ukraine seven self-propelled howitzers Panzerhaubitze 2000 (PzH 2000). These PzH 2000 howitzers will be taken from the German Army’s storage for maintenance before being shipped to Ukraine.

Russian Defense Minister General Sergei Shoigu accused the West of “stuffing Ukraine with weapons”.

Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said that the Russian military is attacking Ukraine’s railway infrastructure to prevent the flow of Western weapons into the country.

However, a senior US defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Russian air strikes on railway stations and railway stations in Lviv, a city in western Ukraine, did not have a “significant impact” on continuing efforts. weapons for Ukrainian forces.