Ukrainian media readers ridiculed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy for his idea of holding talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Donbass and the Vatican. RIA Novosti writes about this on April 28.
It is noted that readers began to offer Zelensky other ideas for places for negotiations. South Sudan, Antarctica and Easter Island were proposed as locations.
Also, many commentators advised Zelensky not to dictate his terms and come to Moscow. In addition, Internet users wrote that the location of the negotiations does not matter.
“Excuse me, maybe I saw and heard the only one? But did Zelensky talk about any part of Donbass? Is the Vatican already in Donbas? What did I miss?”; “What kind of kindergarten? What difference does it make where? You can also talk on the phone – there would be a desire ”; “Will we replace the Minsk format with the Roman one?” – journalists quote the words of users.
Earlier that day, Zelenskiy said the Vatican would be the best place to meet with Putin. The Ukrainian leader stressed that the meeting place of the presidents should inspire confidence on both sides, and a mediator with such authority has the opportunity to provide that confidence “which is lacking in attempts to reach an agreement between Ukraine and Russia.” In addition, Zelensky said that the meeting will definitely take place.
At the same time, the press secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov noted that the Kremlin had not received an official offer to meet President Putin and Zelensky at the Vatican.
On April 20, the Ukrainian leader offered to meet with Putin “anywhere” in Donbass. According to him, the different views of Kiev and Moscow on the past and the future can be viewed not as a problem, but as an opportunity.
The Russian leader said in response that the primary tasks of the Ukrainian leadership should be meetings with the leadership of the DPR and LPR in Donbass. At the same time, he noted that he was ready to receive the President of Ukraine in Moscow to discuss bilateral relations. In Kiev, a meeting between Zelensky and Putin in Moscow was considered impossible.