While Ukraine is not holding any talks with Russia to end the conflict, other countries are most likely engaged in such efforts, President Vladimir Zelensky has said.
In an interview with NBC News on Sunday, Zelensky was asked to address reports that Western officials had approached Kiev to discuss potential peace talks with Russia. The channel also sought to clarify whether he was personally involved in the process.
Zelensky said that while he had heard “a lot of different voices and emotions and without any contradictions and propositions,” he did not have any contact with Russia, adding that all top US officials and policymakers were well aware of his reluctance to negotiate with Moscow.
The Ukrainian president also stressed that he had not experienced any overt pressure from the West to sit down with his opponent. However, he conceded that “I’m sure that there are some countries [where] on the level of intelligence or advisers of leaders… maybe they speak with Russia. Maybe they think how to manage everything.”