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🇦🇺 Australia /Conflict & Security

UK, France, Germany back Zelenskyy's call for direct talks with Putin

From ABC Australia · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy secured backing from UK, French, and German leaders for direct ceasefire talks with Russia.
  • The leaders supported a proposal for dialogue with active US and European participation to achieve a ceasefire and further negotiations.
  • Meanwhile, Russia intensified drone attacks, with one strike damaging a nuclear storage facility near the Chernobyl site, though radiation levels remained normal.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has garnered support from the leaders of the United Kingdom, France, and Germany for his call for direct ceasefire negotiations with Russia. The joint statement followed defense talks in London, where UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz met with Zelenskyy.

supported the proposal for a direct dialogue between Ukraine and Russia, with active US and European participation, to bring about a ceasefire and support further negotiations

— Joint statementFollowing defense talks in London.

The leaders "supported the proposal for a direct dialogue between Ukraine and Russia, with active US and European participation, to bring about a ceasefire and support further negotiations," according to a joint statement. They emphasized that "international borders must not be changed by force" and suggested the "current line of contact should be the starting point for negotiations."

The current line of contact should be the starting point for negotiations.

— Joint statementOutlining conditions for peace talks.

Zelenskyy had previously proposed a face-to-face meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in an open letter, a move Putin dismissed, stating he saw "no point" in meeting until a peace deal was agreed. Zelenskyy also revealed he met with Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich in Kyiv to relay a message to Putin, stating, "You are fighting against us on our territory. We will not leave and we will not go out from our territory. No, we will not give you victory."

International borders must not be changed by force.

— Joint statementStating a principle for negotiations.

Amid stalled diplomatic efforts, Russia has intensified drone strikes on Ukraine, with a recent attack damaging a fuel reception building at a nuclear storage facility near the Chernobyl disaster site. Ukrainian officials reported that radiation levels remained within normal limits following the strike. Ukraine has continued its retaliatory drone and missile strikes deep into Russian territory.

You are fighting against us on our territory. We will not leave and we will not go out from our territory. No, we will not give you victory.

— Volodymyr ZelenskyyRelaying a message to Russian President Vladimir Putin via Roman Abramovich.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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