Zelenskyy, Putin May Hold Talks in Coming Days-Official

Ukrainian Presidential Advisor Mykhailo Podolyak stated that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy may hold talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in the coming days.

"Obviously, the only way to end this war is direct talks between the two presidents, and this is what we are working on in the current talks," Podolyak, also a member of the Ukrainian delegation to the peace talks with Russia, was quoted as saying.

The official pointed out that they are preparing the documents that could be signed during the meeting of the two leaders, affirming that the Ukrainian side has high hopes that a ceasefire will be achieved in the near future.

Zelenskyy has previously called on Putin to meet him and negotiate to stop the war in Ukraine.

“Sit down with me to negotiate, just not at 30 meters,” Zelenskyy said, referring to recent photos of Putin sitting at one end of an extremely long table when he met with French President Emmanuel Macron.

“I don’t bite. What are you afraid of?” he said at a news conference. “Any words are more important than shots.”

Responding to a question from NBC News’ Richard Engel, Zelenskyy said, “It’s not about I want to talk with Putin, I think I have to talk to Putin, the world has to talk to Putin, because there are no other ways to stop this war.”