A man holds fragments of a rocket launched by Russian forces in the centre of Kharkiv, Ukraine on March 27. Photo: AP
Ukraine prepared to discuss neutrality status, Zelensky tells Russian journalists
- Zelensky
was speaking to Russian journalists in a video call, an interview
Russian authorities had pre-emptively warned Russian media to refrain
from reporting
- ‘Security
guarantees and neutrality, non-nuclear status of our state. We are
ready to go for it. This is the most important point,’ the Ukrainian
president said
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Photo: Ukraine Presidency / Planet Pix via Zuma Press Wire / DPA
Ukraine is prepared to discuss adopting a neutral status as part of a peace deal with Russia but it would have to be guaranteed by third parties and put to a referendum, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in remarks broadcast on Sunday.
Zelensky was speaking to Russian journalists in a 90-minute video call, an interview that the Russian authorities had pre-emptively warned Russian media to refrain from reporting. Zelensky spoke in Russian throughout.
Zelensky said Russia’s invasion had caused the destruction of Russian-speaking cities in Ukraine, and said the damage was worse than the Russian wars in Chechnya.
“Security guarantees and neutrality, non-nuclear status of our state. We are ready to go for it. This is the most important point,” Zelensky said.
Ukraine was discussing the use of the Russian language in Ukraine in talks with Russia, but refused to discuss other Russian demands, such as the demilitarisation of Ukraine, Zelensky said.
Russia’s communications watchdog told Russian media on Sunday to refrain from reporting the interview and said it had started an investigation into the outlets which had interviewed the Ukrainian leader.
In a short statement distributed by the watchdog on social media and posted on its website, it said a host of Russian outlets had done an interview with Zelensky.
“Roskomnadzor warns the Russian media about the necessity of refraining from publishing this interview,” it said. It did not give a reason for its warning.
Russian prosecutors said a legal opinion would be made on the statements made in the interview and on the legality of publishing the interview.
Zelensky spoke to several Russian publications.
28 Mar, 2022