Zelensky 'still ready' for talks with Russia

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Ukraine is "still ready" to continue negotiations with Moscow, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Saturday, explaining that his country was looking for any means of putting an end to the war.

"Sadly, in parallel, we see the preparations for important battles, some people say decisive ones, in the east," he claimed, alleging that Russia was preparing offensives in the area.

Zelensky also said Kiev was "ready to fight" while also looking for alternative options, such as dialogue and diplomacy.

The last round of talks between Ukraine and Russia took place on March 29, which saw Ukrainian negotiators highlighting they were ready to accept neutrality in return for "security guarantees" from third parties, i.e., the West, just like Moscow was asking before, but its requests were dismissed.

"In the east and in the south, we have seen a concentration of arms, equipment, and troops who are getting ready to occupy another part of our territory," Zelensky asserted, reiterating his accusations against Russia.

He also went on to say that the outcome of any new Russian actions would "depend on several factors", including how quickly Ukraine is supplied with arms, which is practically Zelensky asking his Western allies for more arms using another way.

This comes despite the United Kingdom announcing that it was sending more Starstreak missiles to Ukraine in a package worth some £150 million ($195 million). 

This adds to the package of billions of dollars of arms and military equipment sent to Kiev since the war began, not to mention the military training provided to Ukrainian soldiers.

The US government has provided Ukraine with $2.3 billion in security assistance since President Joe Biden took office last January, including thousands of anti-tank and anti-aircraft missile systems.

In parallel, the European Union has agreed to send $500 million worth of arms and equipment to Kiev, and Ukraine nonetheless still urged the West to boost its military capabilities.  

Following the start of the war, the US and its allies have rolled out comprehensive sanctions, including restrictions on the Russian central bank, export control measures, SWIFT cutoff for select banks, and closure of airspace to all Russian flights.