Iran Press/ Europe: After long speculation about tensions between Russia and Ukraine, on February 24, Russian troops launched military operations on Ukrainian territory and have so far advanced in various parts of the country.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky's remarks came as he was speaking to Russian journalists in a 90-minute video call, an interview that Moscow authorities had pre-emptively warned Russian media to refrain from reporting. Zelenskyy spoke in Russian throughout, as he has done in previous speeches when targeting a Russian audience.
Zelensky said Russia's attack had caused the destruction of Russian-speaking cities in Ukraine, noting that the damage was worse than the Russian wars in Chechnya, the Global News reported.
"Security guarantees and neutrality, non-nuclear status of our state. We are ready to go for it. This is the most important point," Zelensky stated.
He said Ukraine refused to discuss certain other Russian demands, such as the demilitarization of the country.
Speaking more than a month after Russia attacked Ukraine on February 24, the Ukrainian president had stated that no peace deal would be possible without a ceasefire and troop withdrawals.
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