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Vatican could be perfect place for meeting with Putin, Zelensky says

The Ukrainian president is confident that his meeting with the Russian leader would "certainly" take place

Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP

Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy

© Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP

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Zelensky proposes creating new talks format for Donbass ‘with powerful actors’

ROME, April 28. /TASS/. Vatican could be the perfect place for a meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky said in an interview with Italy’s La Repubblica newspaper.

"The Holy See could be the perfect host for dialogue on peace in Donbass," he pointed out.

He was confident that his meeting with the Russian president would "certainly" take place. "It is necessary in order to end the war in Donbass and complete the peace process," Zelensky added.

According to the Ukrainian president, the Holy See could mediate talks on Ukraine-Russia relations and the conflict in Donbass. He believes that the Vatican is different from other global players because it has moral authority and always acts in an impartial manner because it has no military, political and economic interests.

The Ukrainian leader admitted that "it has been a long time since direct contacts between Ukraine and Russia have taken place." "This certainly does not contribute to constructive negotiations," he added. "This is why I think that we should begin with holding a meeting in a place that symbolizes peace and dialogue," Zelensky specified.

On April 20, the Ukrainian president called on Putin to meet in Donbass. The Russian head of state said on April 22 that if it is about discussing the problems of Donbass, then the Ukrainian leadership should meet, first and foremost, with the heads of the self-proclaimed Donbass republics. Nonetheless, the Russian president pointed out that he was ready to welcome Zelensky in Moscow to discuss bilateral relations. The Ukrainian head of state announced on Monday that he had ordered his Chief of Staff Andrei Yermak to organize a meeting with Putin.

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