Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks via video call at the Doha Forum on Saturday, March 26, 2022 in Doha, Qatar.
Highlight
- A member of Ukraine’s delegation to the talks has said that talks will resume this week.
- At least 1,100 civilians have been killed and 10 million displaced, according to UN estimates
- Russia launched a full-scale offensive against neighboring Ukraine on 23 February.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has said his government is ready to discuss taking a neutral stance as part of a peace deal with Russia aimed at ending the war.
“Security guarantees and the neutral, non-nuclear status of our state. We are ready to accept that. This is the most important point,” he said on Sunday, speaking for the first time to a group of independent Russian journalists. The war began on 24 February.
“As I remember, this was the first point of principle for the Russian Federation. And as far as I remember, they started the war because of this,” the president said.
Ukraine’s neutrality is seen as a major point of contention as negotiators from the two neighboring countries prepare for a new round of talks. Four rounds of talks have taken place between the two sides so far, but no progress has been made on ending the war.
The President’s statement came after a member of the Ukrainian delegation confirmed that the next round of talks would be held in Turkey from Monday to Wednesday.
At least 1,100 civilians have been killed and more than 10 million displaced in the devastating war, which has lasted longer than Moscow’s leaders expected, according to UN estimates.
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