Zelensky from Ukraine invites Russian Vladimir Putin to a meeting

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Zelensky extended the invitation Tuesday evening in a public speech, urging Putin to restore a truce in the region where, he says, “millions of lives” are at stake.

“A proposal has been made to meet at the contact line to see and understand the situation as best as possible. What do I need to understand? I go there every month. Mr. Putin!” Zelensky said.

“I am ready to go even further and invite you to meet anywhere in the Ukrainian Donbass, where there is war,” he said.

An accumulation of Russian troops along the border has sparked tensions in eastern Ukraine, where government forces have been in a tense confrontation with Russia-backed separatists who have been demanding independence from Kiev since 2014.

The US has determined that the Russian army has moved more than 40 tactical battalion groups to the border between Russia and Ukraine, which could make up 40,000 troops in total. It is said to be the largest accumulation of Russian forces near Ukraine since 2014, when Russian forces invaded the country and occupied the Crimean peninsula.

Earlier on Tuesday, Russia’s Defense Ministry said more than 20 ships had also participated in exercises in the Black Sea, which borders both countries. A unit of ships consisting of frigates “Admiral Makarov” and “Admiral Essen”, small missile ships “Grayvoron” and “Vyshny Volochek”, as well as missile boats, small anti-submarine ships and large amphibious ships carried out an exercise to repel air attack means of a simulated enemy using active electronic interference and the conditional use of air defense means, “the ministry said.

In his speech, Zelensky called on Ukrainian citizens to unite in the face of the Russian military threat. Ukraine and Russia, despite their common past, look to the future differently. We are us. You are you. But this is not necessarily a problem, it is an opportunity. At least an opportunity, before it is too late. , to stop the deadly math of future military losses. ”

He accused Russia of refusing to support a “blanket statement” to restore a full ceasefire in the area, despite “the support of all parties”.

The US and other NATO members pledge support for Ukraine while running a fine line with Russia

Last week in Paris, the Ukrainian President met French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel – who participated via video link – to discuss the deteriorating security situation in eastern Ukraine and the occupation of Ukrainian areas. The three leaders closed their meeting and called on Russia to withdraw additional troops gathered at the Ukrainian border.

The NATO alliance has also expressed deep concern about Russia’s military build-up near Ukraine, described last week by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg as “part of a broader pattern of Russian aggressive action”. The Allies fully support Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. on Russia to immediately de-escalate, end its pattern of aggressive provocations and respect its international obligations, ”he said at the time.

Reporting contributed by Anna Chernova and Zahra Ullah from CNN in Moscow.

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