While Russia has captured Ukrainian territory along the Sea of Azov, such as Mariupol and nearby cities, it has not gained control of the western part of the country, including the key port of Odesa.
“The most radical solution is to cut Ukraine off from the sea, then piracy will be impossible in principle,” Putin said on Tuesday in remarks aired on television before the peace talks began in Moscow.
At the Kremilin on Tuesday ahead of the meeting with Putin, from left to right: Russian foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov; Kushner; Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev; and Witkoff.Credit: AP
Witkoff and Kushner met Ukrainian negotiators in Florida on Sunday alongside US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who declared after the talks that the US wanted an outcome that ensured the long-term security of Ukraine.
Witkoff and Kushner then flew to Moscow for their talks with the Russian leader.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said there was a chance for peace in the talks, but he said in a speech in Ireland that there should be no reward for Russia in the outcome.
Zelensky also expressed concern that Trump would lose interest in the negotiations over the war and leave Ukraine exposed to further war from Russia.
“Yes, I am afraid. If somebody from our allies is tired, I’m afraid,” he said when asked about this possibility.
“It’s the goal of Russia to withdraw the interest of America from this situation.”
Zelensky declared that Ukraine wanted peace, but he also held out against any outcome that gave Russia an incentive for waging war.
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“One strong country can start a war, another strong country can stop the war, but to restore justice and defend what’s right we need a community, a world made up of many different nations,” he said.
“One can inspire everyone else, and that is why Ukraine is fighting for every voice in the world.”
In an address to the Irish parliament during an official visit on Tuesday, Zelensky described the war with Russia as a fight that other countries also needed to win to avoid future aggression.
“The aggressor must be held accountable for what was done. This has gone on far too long to simply close our eyes and turn the page on Russia,” he said.
With Reuters
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