President Volodymyr Zelensky has reiterated his rejection of negotiations with Russia before a withdrawal of Russian troops.

“Talks would only be possible if Russia withdraws its soldiers, admits its mistake and there is a new government in Moscow,” Mr Zelensky said on Thursday.

“Only then would talks be possible,” he said.

The president had already banned negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin by decree at the end of September 2022.

Mr Zelensky stressed that a meeting with Mr Putin made no sense. “It is not interesting for me. Not interesting to meet, not interesting to speak,” he said.

“They don’t want talks, and that was the case even before the invasion. President Putin decided so.”

He said he was convinced that Ukraine was only the first step for Mr Putin.

“Before the war there were meetings with Putin.

“I saw a man who said one thing and then did another,” Mr Zelensky said.

“Who is he now? After a full-scale invasion, for me he is a nobody.”

(Dpa/NAN)