Ukraine is prepared to discuss the adoption of a neutral status as part of a peace agreement with Russia, but such a pact would have to be guaranteed by third parties and put to a referendum, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in remarks broadcast to Russian media this week. Sunday.

In a video call that lasted around 90 minutes and after the Moscow authorities preemptively warned the Russian media not to report on this interview, Volodymyr Zelensky spoke in Russian at all times, as he has done in previous speeches when addressing a Russian audience.

Volodymyr Zelensky denounced that the invasion of Russia ordered by Vladimir Putin has caused the destruction of Russian-speaking cities in Ukraine, the damage he described as “worse” than the Russian wars in Chechnya .

Rescuers of the State Emergency Service have put out the fire that occurred at one of the industrial facilities in Lviv, a regional capital in western Ukraine, following a missile attack on March 26. It took more than 14 hours to extinguish the fire.

📷State Emergency Service pic.twitter.com/1lwTJXQ27N
— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) March 27, 2022

“Security and neutrality guarantees, non-nuclear status of our state. We are ready to do it. This is the most important point”.

Volodymyr Zelensky

He noted that Ukraine refused to discuss other Russian demands, such as the demilitarization of the country, and reiterated that no peace agreement would be possible without a ceasefire and troop withdrawals .

Ukraine denies regaining territory controlled by Russia

The president ruled out trying to retake all territory controlled by Russia by force, saying it would lead to a third world war, and said he wanted to reach a “compromise” on the eastern region of Donbas, held by Russian-backed forces. since 2014.

Volodymyr Zelensky also spoke about the fate of the eastern port city of Mariupol, which has been besieged for weeks and has been subjected to prolonged Russian bombardment

He rejected Russia‘s accusations that Ukraine had restricted the rights of Russian-speakers, saying it was Vladimir Putin‘s invasion that wiped Russian-speaking cities “off the face of the earth.”

Ukraine and Russia prepare talks to end the war

As envoys from Kiev and Moscow prepare for a new round of talks aimed at ending the war that has lasted more than a month, Zelensky dismissed Russia ‘s accusations that Ukraine had nuclear or chemical weapons as “a joke.” .

Ukrainian and Russian negotiators will speak early next week in Istanbul , according to Turkey’s presidency, in a new bid to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine , which has already left at least 1,100 dead, according to the UN.