President Zelensky Willing To Discuss Crimea And Donbass Issues, Conditions For Guaranteeing Security And Ending The War

Presiden Ukraina Volodymyr Zelensky. (Wikimedia Commons/President Of Ukraine)

JAKARTA - Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky said he would be ready to discuss the Crimea issue and the recognition of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics with Russia, once the Ukrainian side received security guarantees.

"This is a very difficult situation for everyone. For Crimea, Donbass and for everyone. To find a way out, you have to take this first step, which I have already mentioned: guarantee security, end the war," he said in an interview with TV companies from European countries and from Ukraine, citing TASS March 22.

President Zelensky further emphasized that he is ready to discuss the issue during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, if the meeting of the two leaders is realized.

"I am ready to raise this issue at the first meeting with the Russian President, it is relevant, important for us," President Zelensky said.

As previously reported, the Kremlin said peace talks between Russia and Ukraine had not made significant progress on Monday, while it became the basis for presidential talks between the two countries.

Moscow accuses Kyiv of stopping peace talks by making proposals unacceptable to Russia. Meanwhile, Ukraine said it was willing to negotiate, but would not give up or accept Russia's ultimatum.

Speaking to reporters on a conference call, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said significant progress in talks still had to be made so that there was a basis for a possible meeting between President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

"For us to talk about a meeting between the two presidents, homework has to be done. Talks have to be held and the outcome agreed," Peskov said.

"There has been no significant progress so far," Peskov said.