Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are set to face-off in a long awaited showdown to discuss peace.
Zelenskyy made his desire for a meeting with the Kremlin head clear during a video posted online on March 19, with repeated calls for talks since January falling on deaf ears.
In the video, Zelenskyy described his upcoming conversation with the Russian leader as one he is 'sure people are waiting for'.
"This is the time to meet, to talk, time for renewing territorial integrity and fairness for Ukraine," Zelenskyy said.
"I want to be heard by everyone, especially in Moscow. Otherwise, Russia’s losses will be such, that several generations will not recover."
After weeks of fighting and a wealth of news from the front lines detailing the extreme lengths Russian soldiers will go to get out of fighting in Ukraine, it seems Putin might have finally listened.
But now talks could be only days away, with the BBC revealing that 'Putin has finally agreed to meet' to discuss peace in Ukraine.
"Putin has come to terms with fact he will have to lead the negotiations at some time in the future", journalist Lyse Doucet said while speaking to BBC's Broadcasting House.
"The diplomats are talking, the negotiators are talking. We understand President Putin has finally agreed that he will meet, at some point, President Zelenskyy who has been asking for a meeting since January."
"He hasn't said it in public, he says quite the opposite in public."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called for comprehensive peace talks with Moscow to stop its invasion of Ukraine, saying it would otherwise take Russia ‘several generations’ to recover from its losses in the war https://t.co/mzZeq5N6iK pic.twitter.com/Eytvq4tQnA
— Reuters (@Reuters) March 19, 2022
But, it seems after mass global sanctions, corporate lockouts, and scathing public opinion on the Ukrainian invasion in Russia and the rest of the world, Putin might be ready for a chat with neighbouring Ukraine.
According to conservative US estimates, over 7,000 Russians have been killed during the three weeks of fighting, reports the New York Times.
At least 1.5 million children have been made refugees by Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, according to UNICEF spokesperson Joe English in a talk with CNN . He also said that a further 3.3 million minors have also been displaced.
"Each of these is an individual child whose life has been torn apart, whose world has been turned upside down," English said.
At least 150 children have been killed and 160 injured since Russia invaded Ukraine in late February, the UN agency says.
If you would like to donate to the Red Cross Emergency Appeal, which will help provide food, medicines and basic medical supplies, shelter and water to those in Ukraine, click here for more information.
Featured Image Credit: Pictorial Press Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo. American Photo Archive / Alamy Stock Photo
Topics: Vladimir Putin, Ukraine, Russia, News
