Russia must confirm the "absence of intentions to attack" Ukraine and its readiness to negotiate by "taking concrete steps" for peace, the Ukrainian president said.
Speaking to reporters on Friday evening in the capital Kyiv, Volodymyr Zelensky underlined that dialogue between the two countries could begin "at least with the issue of release of detainees."
"Does anyone enjoy the fact that people are in prison? What's the point?" he questioned.
He stressed that if Russia has any issues with Ukraine, it would be necessary "to meet and talk, and not to bring troops to the Ukrainian borders and intimidate ordinary citizens," said a statement by the President's Office.
"I am willing to meet and I'm not afraid of any format. Bilateral format ... I am ready for any format," he said.
Zelensky emphasized that as Ukraine's leader, it is his duty to knock on all doors, appeal to all world leaders, and propose different formats and platforms to "return peace" to Ukraine.
The president mentioned that he would like the US, in particular, to join the negotiation process for calming down tensions.
"I would like President (Joe) Biden to be able to do that so that we have a negotiating platform in the US-Ukraine-Russia format," he said, adding that this could take place in parallel with the Normandy negotiation process.
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