President Volodmyr Zelensky has called for more sanctions on Moscow at a Thursday press conference in Ankara after a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
His meeting with Erdoğan came as a result of the direct talks in Turkey called by Russian leader Vladimir Putin on Sunday in response to the West’s ceasefire ultimatum. Putin did not attend the meeting eventually.
At the press conference, Zelensky argued that Kyiv should not be the only party pressured to negotiate, asking other nations to do the same on Moscow, with sanctions being the bare minimum.
“The pressure cannot be one-sided. Therefore, we really want there to be a demonstration of pressure on Russia, on Putin – sanctions from Europe, the US, from other countries. At a minimum – sanctions,” Zelensky said, according to Ukrainian news outlet Ukrinform.
The West had earlier called for intensified sanctions on Moscow if the latter failed to comply with the unconditional ceasefire by Monday, May 12, but later said Moscow has this week to show progress before proceeding with the sanctions.
Zelensky further argued that Ukraine has shown initiative by agreeing to the 30-day ceasefire initially brokered by the US in March via the Saudi talks.
“But Ukraine has demonstrated step by step that, believe me, the issue is not in Ukraine. Ukraine is simply standing firm, fighting for itself. We are simply not going to lose our lives and our land. That is the answer,” Zelensky said.
Zelensky reiterated that Ukraine will not recognize Russian control over occupied territories during the same press conference.
“What everyone is now saying and considering a complete ceasefire as an important step for Ukraine was also a compromise,” Zelensky added.
The Kremlin has asserted that the delegation will try to address the so-called “root causes” of its invasion in Istanbul, which in past references meant a neutered Ukraine.