Zełenski: Out of respect for Trump and Erdogan, I send a delegation to Istanbul

Out of respect for the presidents of the US and Turkey, Donald Trump and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, I am sending a Ukrainian delegation to Istanbul for conversations with the Russians, although I think Moscow does not take negotiations seriously – said the President of Ukraine Wołodymyr Zelanski on Thursday.

The president donated at a press conference after meeting Erdogan that the Minister of Defense Rust Rust died at the head of the Ukrainian delegation. He informed that the meeting of the delegation of Ukraine and Russia is to take place in the presence of US and Turkey representatives.

Zelanski added that he himself has nothing to do in Istanbul and announced that on Friday, together with Erdogan, he would go to Tirana to the top of the European political community.

The head of the Ukrainian state drew attention to the low level of representatives of Russia, sent by the Kremlin for talks in Turkey. He also assessed that Putin showed disrespect for Erdogan and Trump. The Russian delegation is the adviser to Putin Vladimir Medinski.

Zelanski emphasized that the first step towards the end of the war should be an unconditional suspension of weapons. He added that if a fire stopping could be developed at the technical level, this meeting of leaders is not necessary.

He also emphasized that if Russia does not show the will to get involved in conversations in the suspension of weapons, other countries should increase pressure on Moscow and impose further sanctions on it.

Zelanski met on Thursday in Ankara with Erdogan. After the talks, the Turkish leader's office reported that the president declared in an interview with Zelanski that Turkey was ready to host conversations of Russian and Ukraine leaders, “when they are (for it) ready” – said Reuters. (PAP)

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