President Zelensky calls for end to Ukraine conflict as soon as possible

During a conversation with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin during his visit to Kiev, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he understood that the conflict in Ukraine needed to end as soon as possible. A video of the meeting was posted by President Zelensky on his Telegram channel.

“I think we all understand that we must end the war as soon as possible,” President Zelensky said.

President Zelensky also described Foreign Minister Parolin's visit as a "strong signal from the Vatican" and expressed gratitude for participating in the Summit in Switzerland last June.

Earlier, Mr. Zelensky, in an interview with British television, admitted the possibility of peace negotiations with representatives of Russia, even if it is President Vladimir Putin.

The second Ukraine peace conference is scheduled to take place in November. However, there is no sign that Russia will attend this event.

President Zelensky has softened his tone significantly in recent statements, frequently signaling a willingness to negotiate with Russia.

Russia has repeatedly expressed its readiness for dialogue, but Kiev has yet to lift the ban on negotiations with Moscow at the legislative level.

In June, President Putin said that Russia would end the conflict in Ukraine if Ukraine withdrew its troops from Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson and Zaporozhye; did not join NATO, did not form military alliances, maintained neutrality; and recognized the Crimean peninsula as part of Russia.