Ukrainian press secretary says consultations are underway about the place and time of the negotiations.
QUICK FACTS:
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accepted Russian President Vladimir Putin’s proposal and is ready to negotiate peace and a ceasefire, Zelensky’s press secretary Sergey Nikiforov said on Saturday, according to The Russian News Agency (TASS).
- Nikiforov denied rumors he was not open to arranging a ceasefire.
- “I have to refute allegations that we have refused to have talks,” Nikiforov said. “Ukraine has always been and is ready to negotiate peace and a ceasefire. It is our permanent position. We have accepted the Russian president’s proposal.”
- Nikoforov said that consultations are underway regarding the place and time of the negotiations, noting a desire to restore normalcy among the two nations.
- Ukrainian news agency, Ukrinform, confirmed that consultations were underway on venue and time for negotiations with Russia.
- “Ukraine is ready to talk about a ceasefire and peace, and consultations are underway on the venue and time of the negotiation process with Russia,” Ukrinform reported.
NIKIFOROV’S FULL STATEMENT:
“Congratulations colleagues! I must refute the allegations that we have refused to negotiate. Ukraine has been and remains ready to talk about a ceasefire and peace. This is our constant position. We agreed to a proposal of the president of the Russian Federation. During these hours, consultations are underway between the parties on the venue and time of the negotiation process. The sooner negotiations begin, the more chances there are to return to normal life,” he said.
WHAT RUSSIA SAYS:
- Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said earlier that Putin was ready to send a delegation to Minsk for talks with Ukraine, TASS noted.
- He later said that in response to the initiative to hold talks in the Belarusian capital city that the Ukrainian side suggested Warsaw as a possible venue.
BACKGROUND:
- Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a televised address on Thursday morning that it was in response to a request by the heads of the disputed Donbass region—inhabited by Russians and Russian sympathizers—he had decided to carry out a special military operation.
- The operation was conducted in order to protect the people of the region “who have been suffering from abuse and genocide by the Kiev regime for eight years.”
- The Russian leader stressed that Moscow had no plans of occupying Ukrainian territories, TASS noted.
