Ukraine not to hold dialogue with separatists - Zelensky

He said this at a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Monday, June 17, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

In particular, responding to the words of the French leader, which were translated into Ukrainian so that Macron calls for a dialogue between the Ukrainian authorities and separatists in Donbas, Zelensky said: "It seems to me that there was a small mistake regarding the dialogue with separatists - that's how I heard the translation. We are ready to continue relations in the Minsk format. We are ready to cease the fire. [...] It is necessary to release the prisoners, which must be done by both sides in the near future."

He also stressed that all sides - not only Ukraine but also Russia - should want to stop the war.

Prior to that, the interpreter translated Macron's words in the following way: "I saw and heard that the president of Ukraine made it clear that he is ready to cease the fire and is ready for a dialogue with separatists, for new formats of negotiations."

However, after Zelensky's remark, the French president clarified that he meant a dialogue with Ukrainian citizens living in the captured territories.

op