NSDC secretary not confirming Ukraine's readiness for direct talks with 'LPR/DPR'

He said after at a panel discussion "Ceasefire and Disengagement of Troops in Donbas: Security and Humanitarian Aspects" when asked to comment on a statement by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov about the need for a direct dialogue between the Ukrainian president and the "DPR/LPR" authorities.

"Let's understand what Lavrov means by the phrase 'the authorities of Donetsk and Luhansk.' Who? I'm a person who is still registered in the city of Luhansk, and when it comes to elections, many things, I would like to understand whether anyone will talk to me. So, of course, our opponents, our enemies will do everything so that we could resort to some relationship with them. […] Here we have to understand with whom, and whether they can answer for their words, whether they have such powers. The situation is quite complicated. We need a Normandy Format meeting. I'm sure that President Volodymyr Zelensky will not take any steps that will not benefit our country," Danilov said.

He reiterated that Ukraine very much needs a Normandy Format meeting so as to directly address some questions to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

op