KYIV: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for comprehensive peace talks with Moscow in a video address, as Russia reported its first hypersonic missile strike on Ukrainian territory.
“The time has come for a meeting, it is time to talk,” Zelenskyy said. “The time has come to restore territorial integrity and justice for Ukraine. Otherwise, Russia’s losses will be such that it will take you several generations to recover.”
Zelenskyy’s appeal for another round of talks came one day after Russia’s lead negotiator said the sides have moved closer to agreement on the issue of Ukraine dropping its bid to join NATO.
Vladimir Medinsky said Friday the two countries are “halfway there” on the question of Ukraine adopting neutral status.
Ukrainian negotiator Mykhailo Podolyak tweeted, “Our positions are unchanged. A cease-fire, withdrawal of troops & strong security guarantees with concrete formulas.”
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow expected its invasion of Ukraine to end with a comprehensive agreement on security issues, including Ukraine’s neutral status, according to Russia’s Interfax news agency.
Meanwhile, Russia said Saturday that its hypersonic missiles had destroyed an underground depot for missiles and ammunition Friday in Ukraine’s western Ivano-Frankivsk region. Russian news agencies said it was the first time it used the advanced weapons system in Ukraine since it invaded on February 24.
Russia’s hypersonic missiles claims were not independently confirmed. A Ukrainian air force spokesperson verified the attack, but said Ukraine had no information on the type of missiles used.
(VOA)
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