LVIV, Ukraine/KYIV, Ukraine (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin told his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on Friday that peace talks could only happen if Ukraine “lays down its arms” and “meets Russia’s demands,” Chinese state media reported.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy had left the capital Kyiv, but a Ukrainian official denied the claim and Zelenskiy later released a video of himself standing outside the presidential office in central Kyiv.
“As for negotiations, the Russian side is ready for them, and we have already said many times that we will not refuse contacts,” Lavrov told a news conference that was broadcast on Russian state television.
“We are ready to negotiate at any moment as soon as the Ukrainian armed forces lay down their arms, stop resisting and meet the requirements that have been clearly voiced by the Russian side,” Lavrov said.
Zelenskiy has said he is ready for talks, but has refused to surrender or disarm.
Lavrov also said the Russian military had opened a humanitarian corridor for civilians to leave Mariupol, a southern port city that has been under heavy Russian bombardment.
“Hopefully, today the civilians will be able to take advantage of this humanitarian corridor, which has already been agreed with the Ukrainian side,” Lavrov said. .
