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Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky said on Friday that while Ukraine is reluctant to hold a dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin, his country must face the reality that communication is likely to be needed to end the war.
“There are things to discuss with the Russian leader. I am not telling you that for me our people are eager to talk to him, but we must face the reality of what we are experiencing,” he said in a statement.
“What do we want from this meeting … We want our lives back … We want to get our lives back to a sovereign state within its own territory,” he said.
Zelensky noted that Russia does not appear ready for peace talks.
REPORTER’S NOTE: RUSSIA’S WAR UKRAINE, WITNESS FOR 3 MONTHS OF TRAGEDY
On Thursday, the Kremlin said it expects Ukraine to accept Russia’s demands and “understand the real situation that exists de facto.”
Russia’s attack on Ukraine has not abated, and its military struck the last Ukrainian fortresses in the separatist-controlled eastern province of Ukraine on Friday.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appeared on screen as he addressed the audience from Kyiv on screen during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Monday, May 23, 2022 (AP Photo / Markus Schreiber)
Ukraine’s foreign minister has warned that its forces will not be able to stop Russia from gaining control of Severodonetsk and Lisichansk without more foreign weapons.
The cities are the last areas under Ukrainian control in Luhansk.
RUSSIA “EXPECTS UKRAINE” TO COMPLY WITH ITS REQUIREMENTS AND ACCEPTS THE “REAL SITUATION THAT EXISTS”
In Donetsk, Russian-backed rebels said on Friday they had taken control of Lyman, but there was no immediate confirmation of the allegation by Ukrainian authorities.
Zelensky accused Moscow of pursuing an “obvious policy of genocide.”
“The pressure on Russia is literally a matter of saving lives,” he said. “And every day of delay, weakness, various disputes or proposals to” appease “the aggressor at the expense of the victim is a new killed Ukrainians. And new threats to everyone on our continent. “
The leader noted that Russia’s offensive in Donbass could leave communities there uninhabited.
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According to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), 3,998 Ukrainian civilians were killed and 4,693 wounded in the conflict.
However, the actual figures are thought to be significantly higher.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
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