Negotiations with Russia only possible after agreed exchanges are completed – Zelensky

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky made this statement to journalists during the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome, Ukrinform reports.

“We must bring to completion what the parties agreed upon during the second meeting, to finalize the exchanges that were coordinated in Istanbul. In my view, the necessary steps will be taken soon. Only after this can the teams proceed to discuss an effective option for preparing a meeting at the level of leaders,” Zelensky said.

According to him, if the goal is to achieve a meaningful result and end this war, it is essential to prepare precisely for a leaders’ summit, and a Ukraine-Russia-United States format at the leaders’ level is the preferred option.

“As for a venue for the negotiations, I am sincerely grateful to the Italian side and the Vatican. I had a meeting with the Pope during which we discussed the possibility of holding a leaders’ summit at the Vatican. I am very pleased that the Vatican is open to such a proposal. In addition, we have similar offers from Austria and Switzerland as neutral countries. There are also direct proposals from Turkey,” the President emphasized.

As previously reported by Ukrinform, Russian leader Vladimir Putin stated that Russia is ready to hold a third round of negotiations with Ukraine and added that further contacts will resume after the completion of exchanges of the bodies of the deceased.

Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine