Ukraines Zelenskyy says Putin rejects in-person talks, chooses war instead

Russian President Vladimir Putin has declined an invitation for in-person talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, according to sources. The offer was made through an open letter from Zelenskyy, which aimed to initiate direct communication between the two leaders.

In a statement, Putin stated that he does not see the need for a face-to-face meeting. This decision has been met with criticism from Ukrainian officials, who have described it as a rejection of peace efforts.

Zelenskyy responded by saying that Russia’s refusal to engage in talks is evidence that Moscow “has again chosen war”. The Ukrainian president had expressed hope that an in-person meeting could help to ease tensions and find a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

The situation remains tense, with ongoing hostilities between Ukraine and Russian-backed forces. Diplomatic efforts have been ongoing, but so far, no breakthroughs have been reported.

Details of the open letter sent by Zelenskyy are not yet available. However, it is understood that the letter was an attempt to initiate a dialogue between the two leaders, with the aim of finding a peaceful solution to the conflict.

The situation remains fluid, and further developments are expected in the coming days.

Source: Al Jazeera