Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Ready for Talks With Russian President Vladimir Putin, Says ‘Let’s Sit Down at Negotiation Table To Stop People From Dying’

Kiev, February 25: Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy suggested to Russian President Vladimir Putin that they sit down at the negotiation table amid escalating tensions over Russia's military actions in Ukraine.

"I would like to address the president of Russia once again ... let us sit down at the negotiation table to stop people dying," Zelenskyy said in a video address, Sputnik News Agency reported. Also Read | Bitcoin Helping Russia Evade Financial Sanctions From the West, President Vladimir Putin May Legalise Cryptocurrency.

The Ukraine President also said he will talk to Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi. "Today at 10.30 am at the entrances to Chernihiv, Hostomel and Melitopol there were heavy fighting. People died. Next time I'll try to move the war schedule to talk to #MarioDraghi at a specific time. Meanwhile, Ukraine continues to fight for its people," Zelenskyy said in a tweet. Also Read | Russia-Ukraine Conflict: 'US Has Not Learnt From Vietnam and Fell Into Another Trap', Says Pakistan President Dr Arif Alvi.

He also said that Sweden has provided military, technical and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. "Grateful to @SwedishPMfor her effective support. Building an anti-Putin coalition together!" he said in another tweet. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had said earlier in the day that Moscow is ready for negotiations on Kiev at any moment.

"We are ready for negotiations. At any moment, as soon as the armed forces of Ukraine respond to the call of our president (Vladimir Putin), stop resisting and lay down their arms. No one is going to attack them, no one is going to oppress them, let them return to their families," Lavrov said.

Zelenskyy also criticized some European countries for not being fast enough in extending assistance to Ukraine amid tensions. "We do not quite see what you are going to do with this; how are you going to defend yourselves if you are so slow helping us in Ukraine," Zelenskyy said in a televised statement, Sputnik reported.

He said that Western actions against Russia were not enough. He urged Western leaders to disconnect Moscow from the SWIFT banking system and withdraw ambassadors from the Russian capital.

Zelensky urged European countries to demand stoppage of "the war". Leaders from a number of countries including the UK, the US, Canada, and the European Union have condemned Russia's military operations in Ukraine. They have also imposed heavy sanctions on Russia.

US President Joe Biden on Thursday said that the US will introduce a new wave of sanctions against Russia in a broad effort to isolate Moscow from the global economy.

The new package of sanctions aims to cut Russia off from the US financial markets and includes freezing the assets of four major Russian banks, including VTB Bank, the nation's second-biggest bank.

Hours after that, President of the European Council Charles Michel said that the EU has made a political decision to impose additional sanctions on Russia over its military operation in Ukraine.

"We took a political decision to add an additional package of mass sanction which will be painful for the Russian regime," Michel said after the extraordinary EU Summit.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the new EU sanctions against Russia will hit 70 per cent of the Russian banking sector, key state-run corporations and deprive Russia of access to modern technologies.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities. Later, Putin ordered special military operations "to protect" the people in eastern Ukraine.

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