President of Ukraine: No time to talk on the sidelines with Russia

President Zelensky said in an interview with the Financial Times published on June 7: “I remain firm and determined whether I want it or not. I am ready to negotiate directly with President Putin if both sides ready to discuss ending this war seriously.”

According to the TASS news agency, President Zelensky thinks he has “no time” to discuss with Moscow on issues unrelated to the end of the conflict, including Ukraine’s possible accession to NATO.

The President of Ukraine visits a military unit in Lysychansk, Luhansk region on June 5. Photo: Reuters

Meanwhile, the World Bank (WB) on June 7 announced an additional 1.5 billion USD in aid for Ukraine, bringing the total planned support package to more than 4 billion USD. The World Bank said the latest funding was supported by financial guarantees from Britain, the Netherlands, Lithuania and Latvia. The plan is also receiving financial support from Italy and donations from the new Multi-donor Trust.

World Bank President David Malpass said the World Bank is providing ongoing support to Ukraine and its people during the crisis. However, President Zelensky said his government needs aid totaling $7 billion a month to keep it afloat.

Regarding the military operation in Ukraine, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said on June 7 that Russia had made significant progress in fully controlling the Donbass region, eastern Ukraine. Russian and pro-Russian forces have recently taken control of 15 communities, including the town of Svyatogorsk.

According to RT, Shoigu said that all residential areas in the city of Severodonetsk are now under Russian control and the fighting is only happening in the industrial areas on the outskirts of the city.

Some experts say that the events unfolding in Severodonetsk are similar to those in Mariupol, a major port city now controlled by the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR).

Ukrainian forces resisted at the Azovstal plant for weeks after being cut off from the main Ukrainian forces and finally surrendering. The same could happen to the Ukrainian garrison in Severodonetsk and the Azot chemical plant, analysts warn.

According to Reuters, the Ukrainian president said the situation was very difficult but pledged to recapture the territory from Russia.