President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterates that Ukraine is constantly initiating steps to advance in the process of ending the war and reaching a peaceful settlement in Donbas and is ready to negotiate in any format with the participation of the Russian Federation. The Head of State stated this, speaking with media representatives at the conference of Ukrainian ambassadors "Diplomacy 30. Strategy of Strong State" in Huta, Ivano-Frankivsk region.
The President said that negotiations within the Trilateral Contact Group were under way these days.
"I don't know about Russia, but we definitely expect three of our initiatives to be taken into account – clear issues that I think everyone is ready for: a ceasefire (there are some details on verifying the ceasefire)… The opening of checkpoints is the second issue. I do not see what the problem is. Only the desire of one side is needed. And the swap also requires desire," Zelenskyy said.
According to the Head of State, if the other side has the appropriate desire, it is quite possible to reach agreements on the implementation of these issues before the New Year and Christmas holidays.
"We are constantly preparing and initiating different documents, different steps, so that we are not accused of not wanting something. We don't just talk. We say we are ready to fulfill it," the President said.
Zelenskyy also reiterated that he is ready for direct talks with the President of the Russian Federation in any format. According to him, Ukraine has even proposed ten steps that can be taken with the involvement of member states of the Normandy format and the United States.
"We have passed these steps on to President Biden, the Russian side, France and Germany," the President said.
"We are ready for a direct dialogue. We do not care in what format. We need readiness," Zelenskyy said.
According to the President, work on possible negotiations in various formats is underway.
"There is the Normandy format. There is a conversation between the President of the United States and the President of Russia. There are talks between security advisers of these states. And we have different conversations. There is a multi-vector conversation," the Head of State said.
Regarding Ukraine's membership in NATO, Zelenskyy said that he had discussed a possibility of our country's participation in the NATO summit in Madrid in 2022 with Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and some leaders of the NATO countries.
"The most important event for us is to be present there in one role or another, and to have a concrete membership perspective in 2022 with clearly defined dates – during which time we are seen as an equal member of the Alliance," the President said.
