China News Service, March 22 (Xinhua) According to a comprehensive Russian media report, on March 21, local time, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that if an agreement is reached in the peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, it must be handed over to a referendum, and Ukraine will never succumb to Russia. ultimatum issued.
Zelensky stressed that Ukraine would not surrender and reiterated that he would have direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the "war".
FILE PHOTO: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Since the end of the first round of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine on February 28, Zelensky has repeatedly stated that he hopes to hold talks with Putin.
However, whether Zelensky's words were earnest or harsh, Putin himself never responded directly.
Zelensky called Putin many times: Sit down with me
Looking back at the communication process between Russia and Ukraine, shortly after the first round of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine ended, Zelensky said in an interview with CNN on March 1 that he was willing to negotiate with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
But then according to RIA Novosti reports, Russian Presidential Press Secretary Peskov said that there are currently no plans to arrange a dialogue between the two.
On March 3, local time, the Russian and Ukrainian delegations held the second round of negotiations in the Belovezh Forest in Belarus.
Then on March 3, the day of the second round of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, Zelensky once again stated that he was ready to discuss all issues with Putin, including the Donbas region.
At a news conference with foreign media, Zelensky shouted to Putin in Russian, "Sit down with me, but not like when you meet Macron or Scholz - 30 meters away. I'm your neighbor!"
On March 10, the day of the Russian-Ukrainian Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, President Zelensky’s office spoke again, saying that Zelensky was ready to talk directly with Putin through an international mediator, but Kyiv did not intend to make any compromises.
Zelensky believes that the war can only be ended through direct negotiations between the presidents of the two countries. "This is the only way we can get out of the current situation."
Zelensky said in an interview with CNN on March 20 that he is ready to negotiate with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but if the negotiations fail, it could mean "World War III."
FILE PHOTO: Russian President Vladimir Putin.
When will the Russian-Ukrainian president hold talks?
Not only Zelensky himself, but also Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Ukraine expressed their willingness to meet with Putin on behalf of Zelensky.
But compared to Zelensky's "urgency", the Russian side does not seem to be in a hurry.
As for when the two presidents can meet, the Russian side has given the answer in many responses.
After the online video talks between Russia and Ukraine started on March 14, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Vereshuk expressed Zelensky's willingness to meet Putin: "Our president is ready to meet Putin, he is ready to sit at the negotiating table. Before. The Ukrainian people gave him full rights to negotiate to protect Ukraine's national interests."
On March 18, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba issued another statement, saying that Zelensky was ready to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and said that if the Russian leader is ready, the talks can "even tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow". .
On March 10, local time, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba held talks in Antalya, Turkey.
This is the highest-level meeting between Russia and Ukraine since Russia launched a special military operation against Ukraine.
In this regard, Russian presidential assistant Mekinsky said that only after the text of the agreement negotiated by the two sides is approved, it is possible to discuss the possibility of a presidential meeting.
"Before talking about the leaders' meeting, it is necessary for the negotiating delegation to prepare and agree on the text of the treaty. According to our proposal, it should be initially signed by the foreign minister and then approved by the government. Only after that it makes sense to discuss the meeting of the heads of state."
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also said that Putin never refused to meet with Zelensky, but the two should not have talks for the sake of talks, and necessary preparations should be made for this.
According to a previous report by the Russian "Independence", Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov made it clear during talks with his Turkish counterpart on the 16th that the final step in the negotiation process may be the meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian presidents.