Europe
Zelenskyy open to Europe's talks with Russia as peace negotiations near final stage
Nation10 January, 02:40 PM
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has no objection to Europe holding talks with Russia as long as Moscow understands the seriousness of the dialogue, he said in an interview with Bloomberg published on Jan. 9.
“I’m not against Europe talking to Russia, especially now, when US pressure is there and Europe has begun to speak about security guarantees,” Zelenskyy said.
He added that “we are moving toward the final stage” of peace negotiations, “even if we don’t yet know what it will look like.”
On Jan. 6, after a Coalition of the Willing meeting in Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron did not rule out contact “in the coming weeks” with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Macron explained that he is “organizing the establishment of contact.”
On Jan. 9, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also said “it is time for Europe to talk to Russia” about ending the war in Ukraine.