403
Sorry!!
Error! We're sorry, but the page you were looking for doesn't exist.
Zelenskyy Calls Putin's Response to Peace Letter "Weak"
(MENAFN) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday dismissed Russian President Vladimir Putin's reaction to his open letter as inadequate, declaring the prospect of direct peace negotiations effectively rebuffed.
"Unfortunately, the Russian side once again chooses war – everyone heard the response today. Weak response," Zelenskyy said in an evening video address posted on US social media company X.
The Ukrainian president accused Putin of showing no genuine willingness to end the war, adding that he believed the muted response had disappointed observers around the world.
Zelenskyy's remarks came in direct response to statements Putin made at the plenary session of this year's St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), where the Russian president said he currently sees no grounds for a face-to-face meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart.
Putin took issue with the tone of the letter, saying it contained "elements of rudeness," and questioned its intent. "Is this a way to create conditions for personal meetings and negotiations, or is it creating an environment in which any personal meetings are truly impossible? I think it's the latter," he said.
When pressed on whether a meeting with Zelenskyy remained a possibility, Putin replied he does not "see the point in meeting," going on to claim that the "only point for the Ukrainian side is to stop the advance of our Armed Forces, that's all."
The exchange follows an open letter Zelenskyy published Thursday, in which he urged Putin to engage in direct talks and signaled Ukraine's readiness to observe a ceasefire throughout the duration of any negotiations — an offer that now appears to have gone unanswered.
"Unfortunately, the Russian side once again chooses war – everyone heard the response today. Weak response," Zelenskyy said in an evening video address posted on US social media company X.
The Ukrainian president accused Putin of showing no genuine willingness to end the war, adding that he believed the muted response had disappointed observers around the world.
Zelenskyy's remarks came in direct response to statements Putin made at the plenary session of this year's St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), where the Russian president said he currently sees no grounds for a face-to-face meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart.
Putin took issue with the tone of the letter, saying it contained "elements of rudeness," and questioned its intent. "Is this a way to create conditions for personal meetings and negotiations, or is it creating an environment in which any personal meetings are truly impossible? I think it's the latter," he said.
When pressed on whether a meeting with Zelenskyy remained a possibility, Putin replied he does not "see the point in meeting," going on to claim that the "only point for the Ukrainian side is to stop the advance of our Armed Forces, that's all."
The exchange follows an open letter Zelenskyy published Thursday, in which he urged Putin to engage in direct talks and signaled Ukraine's readiness to observe a ceasefire throughout the duration of any negotiations — an offer that now appears to have gone unanswered.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept
any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images,
videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright
issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Most popular stories
Market Research
More Story
Comments
No comment