Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP
- Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy laid out his negotiating priorities in a new video on Wednesday.
- In a 9 minute speech, Zelenskyy called for the restoration of Ukraine’s “territorial integrity.”
- Earlier Zelenskyy had said peace talks with Russia were moving in a more positive direction.
Security guarantees and the restoration of the country’s “territorial integrity” are key demands in peace talks with Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an address early on Thursday local time.
In a 9:00 minute speech, shared on Telegram by an advisor to Ukraine’s government, Zelenskyy marked the 21st day of the war by laying out his priorities in negotiations. The address came after officials from both countries signaled that those negotiations were making progress, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov saying there was now “hope for reaching a compromise.”
The president of Ukraine also addressed humanitarian corridors, which he said, “did not work on Wednesday. The Russian military did not stop shelling, did not guarantee security.”
In the speech, he also said that he spoke to the mayor of Melitopol, who Ukrainian officials said special forces exfiltrated after he was taken captive by Russian forces.
“Ivan Fedorov is free,” he said. “I talked to him today. The Russian military abducted him on March 11, trying to persuade him to collaborate. But our man withstood. He did not give up.”
Zelenskyy ended his speech, saying that “negotiations for the sake of Ukraine” were ongoing with the Russian delegation.
“My priorities in the negotiations are absolutely clear: the end of the war, security guarantees, sovereignty, restoration of territorial integrity, real guarantees for our country, real protection for our country.”
This story is developing. Check back later for updates.
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