Zelensky says Ukraine had 'no option but to negotiate' with Russia to end war. But will Putin hold talks?
Categories: FOREIGN COUNTRIES
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday (April 5) said that negotiation with Russia is the only option left to end the ongoing war, which has left the country in tatters. But will the talks happen? During an interview with Ukrainian journalists broadcast on national television, Zelensky said, "All of us, including myself, will perceive even the possibility of negotiations as a challenge."He added that the "challenge is internal". During the conversation, the Ukrainian President said, "First of all, one's own, human challenge. Then, when you pull yourself together, and you have to do it, I think that we have no other choice." As he addressed the media outlet, Zelensky spoke about how Russian troops carried out extra-judicial killings in the town of Bucha west of the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv.Mass graves were found in Bucha and some of the dead bodies were lying on the streets. Authorities claimed that women and young girls were raped, tortured and then killed. The bodies of some girls were even branded.Refuting the claims of brutality, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said the reports of civilian killings in Bucha were "fakes" aimed at discrediting Russia.Important to note that the talks are going via video link, reported the Russian news agency Interfax citing a deputy Russian foreign minister as saying.So far, there's no official comment on whether Russian President Vladimir Putin is interested in holding talks with his Ukrainian counterpart.