Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia must stop bombarding cities before meaningful cease-fire talks could begin after a first round of negotiations yielded little progress.
“We are for dialogue, yes, but the least that must happen is the bombardment of people must stop. You simply have to stop the bombardment and then sit down behind the table for talks.”
The 44-year-old Zelenskyy, unshaven and clad in a khaki t-shirt and combat boots, made the remarks in an exclusive interview Tuesday with Reuters and CNN in a heavily guarded government compound in Kyiv.
Just as he was speaking, news emerged that a Russian missile had struck a TV tower in the Ukrainian capital, killing at least five people. Earlier that day, missiles struck the heart of the eastern city of Kharkiv.
Ukraine is receiving weapons shipments from NATO members to help withstand a full-scale military invasion unleashed last week by Russian forces. The West also has placed severe sanctions on the Russian economy. (REUTERS)