Zelenskyj repeated that he is ready to have a face-to-face meeting with Putin. "A meeting at the leadership level is needed to really ensure peace, lasting peace", he says in the speech. He also pointed out that "we must increase the pace of negotiations".
The Kremlin has previously announced that they are ready to continue the talks with Ukraine, an announcement that came after the US President Donald Trump gave Russia 50 days to conclude a peace agreement to avoid being hit by new tough sanctions.
Two rounds of talks have previously taken place between Moscow and Kyiv in Istanbul without leading to any progress towards a ceasefire between the countries. The talks have, however, resulted in large-scale prisoner exchanges and agreements to return the bodies of fallen soldiers.
At the talks last month, Russia presented a list of tough demands, including that Ukraine should relinquish more territory and reject all forms of Western military support. Ukraine dismissed the demands as unacceptable.
