Russia-Ukraine War: Zelenskyy's top advisor claims Putin not ready to meet & hold talks

Amid this relentless war, top Zelenskyy's visor said that Russian President Vlimir Putin is not rey to meet and hold talks with his Ukrainian counterpart. According to statement released by Deputy He of Ukrainian President's Office, Igor Zhovkva, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is rey to discuss ongoing issues with President Putin. As per Zhovkva, President's office has directly or indirectly sent several proposals to Putin for talks but has not received any positive response from Russian side.

official emphasised that Ukrainian President has alrey stated his willingness to meet face-to-face with Putin. Furr, Zhovkva maintained that several world leers have publically urged Putin to return to negotiations table but still, Russian he has not shown his willingness to resolve issue. Also, he said that Putin has told some leers that "time has not yet arrived".

'I don't bite. What are you afraid of?': Zelenskyy

Notably, since war started in mid-February this year, three rounds of peace talks were held between Russian and Ukrainian diplomats. However, meeting did not yield desired results. On Several occasions, Zelenskyy appealed to his Russian counterpart to hold negotiations but same has not been echoed by President Putin.
On March 3, Zelenskyy, during a press conference, called for Putin to meet him, salting proposal with sarcasm. "Sit down with me to negotiate, just not at 30 meters," he h said, apparently referring to recent photos of Putin sitting at one end of an extremely long table when he met with or world leers in Kremlin. "I don't bite. What are you afraid of?" Zelenskyy said at a news conference. 

Russia-Ukraine war

Russia initiated a full-fledged war against Ukraine nearly two days after Putin signed a decree recognising independence of breakaway regions Donetsk and Luhansk. Putin's action came despite West's repetitive warning and speculations about his ill intention to inve Ukraine. Until n, Zelenskyy h called his Russian counterpart to meet him, seeking a resolution to avert war. Irrespective of pressure and appeals, Russian troops started a military operation against Ukraine on February 24, this year. 

Image: AP