Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said yesterday peace negotiations with Russia were not failing because of a lack of willingness on Kyiv’s part.
"We are ready for an agreement that will bring real peace. We believe that this war can be ended. This war can be ended with dignity," he said in a speech at the Munich Security Conference.
"We have given our partners everything we believe such a deal must include," he said, adding Kyiv was "ready to invest in the common security" of Europe.
On Saturday, US President Donald Trump suggested Zelenskyy was to blame for a lack of progress in the talks.
"Russia wants to make a deal and Zelenskyy’s going to have to get moving, otherwise he’s going to miss a great opportunity," Trump told reporters at the White House.
The remarks increase pressure from the US on Kyiv ahead of a new round of talks that, according to Russian officials, is set for this week in Geneva.
Zelenskyy and other senior Ukrainians have recently said the US is seeking a peace agreement by June. In Munich, however, Zelenskyy did not comment on any timeline for the negotiations.
Zelenskyy said the coming Geneva talks would address not only ongoing territorial disputes but also security guarantees and a prisoner exchange.
He estimated about 7000 Ukrainians were held in Russian captivity, while more than 4000 Russian soldiers were detained by Ukraine.
He said Russia was losing 156 troops for every square kilometre gained, and losses of 50,000 a month could push the Kremlin towards genuine negotiations. — dpa
