Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says Vladimir Putin will not make a meaningful contribution to peace talks to end the war in Ukraine.
"I have never been afraid, it's just that Putin wants war. What can a man who wants war say to peace talks?", Zelensky told French newspaper Le Monde.
He added that Putin "is not ready for direct negotiations." "I will not swallow his narrative... I don't care."
The US held separate meetings with the Ukrainian and Russian delegations to kick off the peace talks. Prior to Zelensky's comments, Putin said Ukraine should be subject to a UN-led transitional government.
On March 28, a spokesman for the White House National Security Council rejected the proposal, stressing that Ukraine's governance is determined by its constitution and its people. Moscow has shown signs that it is unwilling to make progress on a peace agreement with Ukraine. Russian authorities have indicated maximalist demands in ceasefire negotiations with Ukraine and the United States. | BGNES
