Ukraine calls for direct talks with Russia

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Ukraine calls for direct talks with Russia

We may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called for direct talks with Moscow on Wednesday after Ukraine urged Nato to prepare economic sanctions on Russia and boost military cooperation with Kyiv as a way of deterring the Kremlin from launching a new attack after massing troops.

Ukraine and its NATO allies have sounded the alarm about Russian troop movements near Ukraine's borders this year, sparking fears that a simmering conflict in eastern Ukraine could cause war between the two neighbours. Russia accuses Ukraine and the United States of destabilising behaviour and dismisses talk of a new Russian assault as false and inflammatory. On Wednesday, a new round of military exercises took place near Ukraine's border. President Zelenskiy said: We must tell the truth that we will not be able to stop the war without direct negotiations with Russia, and this has already been recognized by all external partners. His administration has tried to arrange in-person talks between the president and Russian leader Vladimir Putin, but his requests were ignored.

The Kremlin said President Putin is not opposed to the idea of talks with Zelenskiy, but that Moscow would want to see a proper agenda for a meeting. Zelenskiy said that he was not afraid of a direct conversation with them, we are not afraid of a direct dialogue, we know which of the European countries support Ukraine. The Ukrainian leader was speaking in parliament that was surrounded by heavy security of police and national guard officers. Last week, Zelenskiy said Ukraine had uncovered a plot to overthrow his government that was supposed to launch on Wednesday. Russia hasn't said anything about it. READ MORE: France turns to the EU Army as the Channel migrant crisis gets out of control.

Russia accused Ukraine on Wednesday of deploying half its army to fight pro-Russian separatists in the east of the country and said it had launched regular winter drills in its southern military district bordering Ukraine. Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for the Russian foreign ministry, said: "The Ukrainian army is building up its military strength, bringing in hardware and personnel. According to some reports, the number of troops in the conflict zone has reached 125,000 people, which is half of the Ukrainian army. The Ukrainian military didn't say anything about Zakharova's statement.