Zelensky promises peace talks 'tomorrow' if Russia leaves Ukraine territory

Remarks came at the end of a peace summit in Switzerland

- MARYAM ZAKIR-HUSSAIN

Ukraine would hold peace talks “tomorrow” if Russia pulls out of all Ukrainian territory, Volodymyr Zelensky has said at a peace summit in Switzerland.

The two-day summit was held to accelerate efforts to end the war in Ukraine, and came to a close yesterday with dozens of countries committing to Ukraine’s territorial integrity.

It comes as three civilians were killed by Russian forces in a strike on the Donetsk region as Vladimir Putin is accused by some of “seducing the West”.

Vadym Filashkin, head of the Donetsk Regional Military Administration, said on Telegram that Russian soldiers killed three residents and injured five others in Ulakly.

He added: “Total number of victims of Russia in Donetsk oblast doesn’t include killed and injured in Mariupol and Volnovakha. #StopRussia #RussiaKillsCivilians.”

War analysts have called Mr Putin’s purported interest in peace negotiations merely a hollow attempt to “seduce” the West.

Russian President Mr Putin mocked the summit as “just another ploy to divert everyone’s attention, reverse the cause and effect of the Ukrainian crisis [and] set the discussion on the wrong track”.