Ukraine President, Volodymyr Zelensky has called on Russian strongman Vladimir Putin to sit with him and discuss how to stop the war.
Speaking on Thursday, March 3, Zelenskyy called on the West to increase military aid to Ukraine, saying Russia would attack the rest of Europe otherwise.
“If you do not have the power to close the skies, then give me planes!” Zelensky told a press conference. “If we are no more then, God forbid, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia will be next,” he said, adding: “Believe me.”
Zelensky then emphasized on having direct talks with Vladimir Putin, saying it was “the only way to stop this war” Asking him “what are you afraid of’?
“We are not attacking Russia and we do not plan to attack it. What do you want from us?
“Please leave our land. If you don’t want to leave now, sit down at the table of negotiations. I am free. Sit down, but not 30 meters away, like with Macron or Scholz. I’m your neighbor … I don’t bite … Sit down with me and talk. What are you afraid of?”
“Sit down with me. Just not 30 metres away like with (French President Emmanuel Macron),” the Ukrainian leader said, referring to Putin receiving world leaders at an enormously long table.
Zelensky — who just weeks ago sought to calm Ukrainians over US allegations that Russia was planning to invade his country — said: “Nobody thought that in the modern world a man can behave like a beast.”
Putin launched an invasion of Ukraine last week, and the war which has lasted 7 days has impacted negatively on Russia’s economy as the West dropped heavy sanctions on the country.
Watch the video below
Zelenskyy to Putin: “Please leave our land. If you don’t want to leave now, sit down at the table of negotiations. I am free. Sit down, but not 30 meters away, like with Macron or Scholz. I’m your neighbor … I don’t bite … Sit down with me and talk. What are you afraid of?” pic.twitter.com/POc3HqXmiK
— The Recount (@therecount) March 3, 2022
