President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine has called for direct negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, stressing that these talks should not be subject to any preconditions. This statement was made after a visit to the White House involving Zelenskyy and seven European leaders, and followed a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Putin in Alaska. Zelenskyy warned that setting preconditions, such as a ceasefire, could allow Russia to dictate the terms of the discussions, potentially hindering a successful outcome. The focus of the discussions is centered around resolving the conflict in Ukraine that initiated with Russia’s full-scale invasion.
