Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky has sounded a rare note of optimism – albeit a distinctly cautious one – following the latest round of negotiations between Ukrainian and Russian officials.
Speaking on Saturday afternoon (12 March) as the war in Ukraine stretches into its 17th day, Zelensky said that both sides have finally begun discussing "concrete" topics as opposed to dealing in continued ultimatums.
Zelensky spoke with French president Emmanuel Macron and the Chancellor of Germany, Olaf Scholz, noting that "we must stop the aggressor together".
https://twitter.com/SkyNews/status/1502664082067005442
Hours beforehand, Zelensky accused Russian forces of abducting Ivan Federov; mayor of the city of Melitopol.
"We discussed countering the aggressor, RF crimes against civilians," Zelensky wrote on Twitter.
"I ask my partners to help in releasing the captive mayor of Melitopol. Prospects for peace talks also discussed.
"We must stop the aggressor together."
https://twitter.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1502652730107731972
Despite the glimmer of hope offered up by Zelensky's comments on the progress of negotiations, the Ukraine president has remained steadfast in his condemnation of Vladimir Putin and in detailing his country's unwillingness to surrender.
In his latest address, Zelensky said that Russia may only occupy the capital of Kyiv if it "razes it to the ground".
"We know 100% that we will win," he said. "And 100% we don't know when.
"Our diplomats are discussing details with the Russian federation and I hope that we will have a settlement process, a peace process, to end the war.
"There should be a ceasefire. If there are tens of thousands of people whom Russia is now mobilising and if they come here with hundreds and thousands of tanks; they will enter Kyiv, we understand that.
"If they do carpet bombings and if they decide to erase the historical memory of this whole region, if they destroy all of us, [only then] they will enter Kyiv."
In his previous address, Zelensky stated that Russian forces have "transitioned into a new state of terror" and accused his enemies of trying to "physically liquidate" Ukrainian authority figures.
"The kidnapping of Melitopol's mayor isn't just a crime against an individual person or a specific society or against Ukraine," he said.
"It's a crime against democracy as a whole. I assure you 100% of people in all democratic countries will learn about this.
"And the actions of the Russian invaders will be equated to the actions of ISIS terrorists."
Following a 75- minute phone call between Macron, Scholz, and Vladimir Putin on Saturday, Sky News has quoted a French presidency official who says that Putin "did not appear ready to end the war".
Clip via The Independent
