Russian President Vladimir Putin has 'lost interest in diplomatic efforts' in order to end the war with Ukraine and 'appears' set on taking as much Ukrainian territory as possible, according to the Financial Times who were referencing three people who they said were briefed on conversations with Vladimir Putin.
The Financial Times stated that while Putin had been considering a peace deal with Ukraine has now reportedly told people that he 'sees no prospects for a settlement' according to the FT, who quoted one source as saying "Putin sincerely believes in the nonsense he hears on [Russian] television and he wants to win big".
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for a meeting with Putin in an effort to 'put an end to the war' and said, "I think that whoever started this war will be able to end it" at a news conference at a metro station in Kyiv.
Zelensky stated that he was "not afraid to meet" Putin if it would lead to a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. "From the beginning, I have insisted on talks with the Russian president" he stated.
"It's not that I want (to meet him), it's that I have to meet him so as to settle this conflict by diplomatic means. We have confidence in our partners, but we have no confidence in Russia" he added.
The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has planned to visit Moscow, Russia on Tuesday before he visits Kyiv, Ukraine but Zelensky has denounced this saying "It is simply wrong to go first to Russia and then to Ukraine," he said. "There is no justice and no logic in this order".
Zelensky did however say that Ukraine would break off all talks with Russia if the Ukrainian soldiers in Mariupol are killed, saying "If our men are killed in Mariupol and if these pseudo-referendums are organized in the (southern) region of Kherson, then Ukraine will withdraw from any negotiation process".
He stated that he was willing to exchange Ukraine's soldiers defending Mariupol "in whatever format" in order to save "these people who find themselves in a horrible situation, surrounded".
The Financial Times stated that while Putin had been considering a peace deal with Ukraine has now reportedly told people that he 'sees no prospects for a settlement' according to the FT, who quoted one source as saying "Putin sincerely believes in the nonsense he hears on [Russian] television and he wants to win big".
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for a meeting with Putin in an effort to 'put an end to the war' and said, "I think that whoever started this war will be able to end it" at a news conference at a metro station in Kyiv.
Zelensky stated that he was "not afraid to meet" Putin if it would lead to a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. "From the beginning, I have insisted on talks with the Russian president" he stated.
"It's not that I want (to meet him), it's that I have to meet him so as to settle this conflict by diplomatic means. We have confidence in our partners, but we have no confidence in Russia" he added.
The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has planned to visit Moscow, Russia on Tuesday before he visits Kyiv, Ukraine but Zelensky has denounced this saying "It is simply wrong to go first to Russia and then to Ukraine," he said. "There is no justice and no logic in this order".
Zelensky did however say that Ukraine would break off all talks with Russia if the Ukrainian soldiers in Mariupol are killed, saying "If our men are killed in Mariupol and if these pseudo-referendums are organized in the (southern) region of Kherson, then Ukraine will withdraw from any negotiation process".
He stated that he was willing to exchange Ukraine's soldiers defending Mariupol "in whatever format" in order to save "these people who find themselves in a horrible situation, surrounded".
Last edited: