PresidentĀ Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed his readiness for one-on-one talks with President Vladimir Putin to work out a permanent ceasefireĀ to end theĀ Ukraine war.
ZelenskyĀ reiterated the commitment onĀ WednesdayĀ at a press conference alongsideĀ NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on the sidelines of the first NATO-Ukraine Council meeting.
āIām ready for direct negotiations with Putin to end this war,ā he said in Kyiv. āRather than wait while everybody finishes all the conflicts in the world.ā
Zelensky noted that ballistic missiles are Russiaās ālast argumentā in the war, confirming his country has been responding with the American-made Patriot systems.
The leader insists the recentĀ strikes by Ukraine were justified, as they were carried out in response to the Russian attacks on its territory.
āIf they continue using drones and missiles against us, we will be doing the same,ā Zelensky vowed. āBut we respond exclusively against oil refineries or justified military targets.ā
The President, however, hinted that theĀ greatest threat Ukraine currently faces isĀ Russiaās capability to produce up to 120 ballistic missiles per month.
Rutte praised Ukraine for its resilience, saying the nationĀ has become so successful that Putin was only able to organize the May 9 parade with an official presidential decree by Zelensky.
Ukraine war: Zelensky ready for direct negotiations with Putin
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