Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj says he can not accept any kind of meeting with anyone from Russia except the president.
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– The Russian president decides everything. If we talk about ending this war without him personally, then it is a decision that can not be made, said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj in a video speech to the World Economic Forum in Davos on Monday according to The Guardian.
– I can not accept any kind of meetings with anyone from Russia, except the president, and only in the case where there is only one topic on the table: Stopping the war. There are no other reasons for any kind of meeting.
Zelensky added that it has become increasingly difficult to establish talks with Russia, in light of what Zelensky said is evidence of Russian actions against civilians under occupation.
– Not been such a war in 77 years
The president says that Russia is waging a total war against Ukraine, where the goal is to cause as many casualties and as much destruction as possible.
Since the invasion began on February 24, Russian forces have fired 2,275 rockets, spread over 1,474 rocket attacks, against Ukraine, according to the 44-year-old head of state.
Most of them have hit civilian targets, Zelenskyj claims. During the same period, Ukraine has registered more than 3,000 Russian airstrikes, according to the president’s figures.
– In fact, there has been no such war on the European continent in 77 years, says Zelenskyj.
He urges Ukrainians who do not participate in the battlefield to help the country as best they can in other ways, and he says that his task now is to work to increase international pressure on Russia.
– The absolute priority is weapons and ammunition to Ukraine, says Zelenskyj.
«Dictatory position»
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov believes the West’s attitude towards Russia now means that Moscow must turn east instead of seeking cooperation.
The West has taken what Lavrov calls a “dictatorial stance” against Russia. It accelerates Moscow’s development of economic ties with China, he believes.
–Russia can only be dependent on itself and the countries that “have shown that they are reliable”, Lavrov told the two Russian state news agencies RIA and Tass.
The Foreign Minister says that Russia’s future lies in the Eurasia region. He specifically mentions India and Iran as important partners, in addition to China.
Russia should no longer be dependent on imports from the West, says Lavrov.
Moscow should seriously consider whether there is a need to resume relations with the West, even if the countries in the West should offer it, the minister believes.
The EU, the US and other Western countries have imposed sanctions on Russia in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
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