Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated for the first time today that he is in favor of Russia's participation in the future peace summit that would be organized by Kiev.
"I think Russian representatives should participate in this summit," the Ukrainian president said at a press conference in Kiev, hoping that a "plan" for such a meeting could be ready in November.
Zelensky did not mention a ceasefire, but the establishment of a "plan" on three topics - the energy security of Ukraine, whose infrastructure has been devastated by Russian bombing, free navigation in the Black Sea and the exchange of prisoners.
Russia still occupies about 20 percent of Ukraine's territory, and the prospects for a ceasefire, or even lasting peace, between Kiev and Moscow are minimal at this stage, after almost two and a half years of large-scale Russian attacks.
It is the first time that Zelensky has raised the idea of talks with Russia without first withdrawing Russia from the territory of Ukraine.
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