Commenting on the possibility of direct talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian Volodymyr Zelensky, UN Secretary General António Guterres said: “I consider it important to create the conditions for achieving peace in accordance with the UN Charter of Law.” But if we are realistic, I think we are far from that possibility and it may be difficult to have direct negotiations between these two presidents.”

And he confirmed in a statement to the Sputnik agency “that he is ready to offer his services to facilitate these negotiations, but their conduct depends on the desire of Putin and Zelensky.”

At a press conference after the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Samarkand last Friday, Putin pointed out that “in order to meet with Zelensky, Kyiv must agree to this, but they refuse to negotiate”, noting that “Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan believes that the meeting with Zelensky will bring a positive result.”