The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, accepted that a commission of his Government dialogue with representatives of Russia, after the ultimatum made by Vladimir Putin, who had given this Sunday as the maximum date to accept possible negotiations.
Zelensky spoke with the president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko –Putin’s ally–, to whom he informed of the decision to send a delegation, but remarking that there are no “preconditions”. This could happen at some point on the border between Ukraine and Belarus.
“We agreed that a delegation will meet with a Russian delegation without any preconditions,” Zelensky said on his Telegramm channel.
He added that Lukashenko had assumed responsibility for ensuring security of the entourage.
“All planes, helicopters and missiles stationed on Belarusian territory will remain on the ground during the trip, the talks and the return of the Ukrainian delegation”, added Zelensky.
Zelensky’s decision occurs a few hours after Putin ordered his nuclear forces to be “on alert”, after the severe economic sanctions of the United States and NATO members.
A few hours before announcing his opening to a possible negotiation, Zelensky asked the International Court of Justice to start trials next week against the Russian Government for the invasion.
“Ukraine has sent its application against Russia to the ICJ,” the Ukrainian president wrote on Twitter. “Russia must be held accountable for manipulating the notion of genocide to justify aggression.”
Zelensky added that the request was made as “urgent” and he would expect the trials to begin next week.
The Government of the United States has not expressed its position on the possible negotiation between the Ukrainians and Russians, but it increased humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
Read all the coverage on the Russia-Ukraine Conflict here.