Volodymyr Zelensky: I am ready for dialogue, we are not ready for surrender

I am ready for dialogue, we are not ready for surrender - this is how the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky responded to a question asked by a journalist about the recognition of Crimea as part of Russia, the refusal to join NATO and the recognition of two separatist regions.

He urged Russia’s Vladimir Putin to get out of his “bubble” and “start the dialogue”.

"First of all, I am ready for dialogue, we are not ready for surrender.

As for NATO, I have long been indifferent to this issue, since we realized that NATO is not ready to accept Ukraine. The Alliance is afraid of controversial issues and confrontation with Russia. I never wanted to be a country that is begging for anything on its knees. I do not want to be that country and I do not want to be that president. I'm talking about security guarantees.

As for the territories that no one has recognized except Russia, what is important to me is how the people with whom they want to be part of Ukraine will live in those territories. This is another ultimatum and we are not ready for ultimatums.

Putin needs to start the dialogue, instead of living in [an] informational bubble without oxygen…He is in this bubble,” Zelensky said.