Ukraine, Moscow: Zelensky, ready to talk to Putin but no ultimatum. 'The risk of a Russia-NATO confrontation rises'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr

, in an interview with Porta a Porta said he was ready to talk to Russian leader

but without

and reiterated that we must not look for a way out for Russia.

Zelensky then thanked Prime Minister

for having adopted the European

against Russia

In

a night of bombing: Russian troops hit the Kryvyi Rih district in the

region , in the southeast,

and

according to reports from the head of the military administration, Oleksandr Vilkul, on Telegram, reports Ukrinform .

Meanwhile, Russian troops are blocking the exits from the underground passages of the

plant in Mariupol.

And

continues to ask to stop the shipment of weapons to Kiev because "the probability of an open and direct conflict between Russia and NATO increases", said the deputy president of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev.

.

Mariupol, driving through the streets of the city destroyed by bombing

ZELENSKY'S INTERVIEW DOOR TO DOOR

I don't think Putin will be able to save face "and" as far as the negotiations with Russia are concerned, the issue gets complicated every day because every day the Russians occupy villages, because many people have left their homes were killed by the Russians and I see traces of torture and killings.

I am ready to talk to Putin, but without ultimatum "." We must not look for a way out for Russia - continued the Ukrainian president -.

I know

he wanted to bring home some results but he didn't find it.

The Russians have to go and they have to answer for what they have done.

We cannot accept compromises for our independence "she added." Ukraine wants peace, very normal things like respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, people's traditions, language.

They may be trivial things but they are all violated by Russia and that must be restored ", continued Zelensky." I never talked about recognizing the independence of

, we will never recognize it as part of the Russian Federation. "

Zelensky specified.

"Even before the war - he added - Crimea had autonomy, but it has always been Ukrainian territory. We have said that we are ready to talk to Russia. Now we cannot deliberate a decision on Crimea because there is war, we leave it. aside if it hinders the meeting and I believe that this proposal was right ".

Finally Zelensky said he was "very grateful to Mario Draghi and happy that Italy has adopted the European sanctions".

The Russian Armed Forces "are four times bigger, their state is eight times bigger, but we are ten times stronger as people because we are on our land. For us, victory is only giving back our things, for them it is stealing something about the others. We are not on an equal footing, Russia is stronger,

but the world is united around us, and we feel that step by step we are succeeding.

So

because we are fighting for the truth and we are not alone. "

THE BOMBING

An attack in the morning also on Zelenodolsk, also in the Dnipropetrovsk oblast, with multiple MLRS rocket systems, explains Vilkul, stating that one civilian was killed and another was wounded.

In the night, again, a Russian plane struck Novgorod-Siversky in the

, in the northeast, the head of the regional military administration Vyacheslav Chaus announced on Telegram, according to Ukrinform.

Three people died and 14 were injured, according to the Ukrainian agency UNIAN citing the Novgorod-Siversky city administration.

"This morning Russian troops launched a cruise missile on the city of Zaporizhzhia", reports the regional military administration on Telegram, stating that "according to initial information, a private building is on fire".

It is not specified, the Ukrainian media add, whether the missile hit the city or was shot down by air defense.

THE SITUATION IN THE AZOVSTAL STEEL MILL

Russian troops are blocking the exits from the underground passages of the

.

This was stated by the adviser of the mayor of Mariupol Petro Andriushchenko on Telegram, quoted by Ukrinform.

"The main objective of the Russian army is to block the exits from the underground passages, which have been pointed out to the enemy by a traitor. However, the defenders of Mariupol are making attempts to counterattack, risking everything. There are no words to describe the heroism of Mariupol's defenders, "wrote Andriushchenko.

According to Andriushchenko, who posted a close-up aerial video of the steel mill, "Russian drones are one of the biggest problems. If there had been a way to shoot them down, things would have been much easier for Mariupol's defenders."

In recent days, Ukraine has proposed to Moscow to release Russian prisoners of war in exchange for

evacuation of seriously injured Ukrainian soldiers from the Azovstal plant.

According to Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk, it is currently impossible to unlock the steel plant by military means, while Ukrainian military units do not intend to surrender.

Mariupol, fighting continues in the Azovstal steel plant

MAYOR OF KIEV

"Unfortunately today we cannot guarantee the safety of every resident. Every corner of Ukraine, every city and country, is threatened as Russia continues its barbaric war against our country," says Kyiv Mayor Vitaly Klitschko, in a post on Telegram with an interview with CNN in which he is asked if the inhabitants of Kiev who have left the city can already return home.

In the interview Klitschko explains that "undoubtedly" the capital is the "main target" for the Russians and says he is "worried" that Putin could use nuclear weapons.

ANSA agency

Ukraine, live broadcast of the day - World

Chronicle from the cities (ANSA)

RUSSIA

"Filling Ukraine with weapons from NATO countries, training its troops in the use of Western equipment, deploying mercenaries and holding border exercises increases the likelihood of an open and direct conflict between Russia and NATO."

This was stated by Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry

, as reported by Tass and Interfax, adding that "such a conflict always has the risk of turning into a total nuclear war. It would be a disastrous scenario for everyone".

Russia will give "the most resolute answer" if anyone decides to "interfere in Moscow's special military operation" in Ukraine, said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, quoted by TASS.

Peskov acknowledged that the US, like Russia, are "trying to avoid a direct confrontation between Moscow and NATO".

Such assurances, Peskov added, were given by Moscow, Brussels, and, "most importantly, by Washington," including President Biden, Russian agencies report.

The sanctions imposed on Russia are largely responsible for a global economic crisis, said President Vladimir Putin quoted by Russian agencies.

Anti-virus sanctions, a consequence of the "short-sighted political ambitions" of Western leaders and their "Russophobia", damage the economies of the countries that adopt them the most and "the well-being of their citizens" and cause "a global crisis".

Putin said again, quoted by TASS, in a meeting of economic leaders.

THE ATLANTIC COUNCIL IN WASHINGTON

Applause and standing ovation for the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Atlantic Council evening in Washington, where he sent a videotaped message on the occasion of the awarding of Prime Minister Mario Draghi for his political leadership, together with the CEO of Eni Claudio Descalzi for his entrepreneurial leadership.

Zelensky: 'New US funds to support Ukraine and global democracy'

"Ukraine needs a Marshall plan for reconstruction

" Prime Minister Mario

proposed in his speech for the Atlantic Council award.

According to the speaker of the American House,

, "the struggle for freedom in Ukraine is a struggle for freedom in the world and the US is ready to do its part". 

ANSA agency

Draghi, Marshall Plan for Ukraine.

Italy ready to do its part - Politics

At the end of the two days in the United States, Mario Draghi chooses the stage of the Atlantic Council, which gives him the prize for "leadership", to launch the proposal for a plan for the reconstruction of the territories still today the scene "of the Russian invasion of 'Ukraine".

We must do "everything for peace" the premier reiterates from the stage of the Anthem Theater in Washington, ensuring that Italy is ready to play the part of him.

Standing ovation from the audience - a thousand people from the elite of the US capital - for Ukraine and its president.

The Ukrainians, says Zelensky in a video message, "are the best defenders" (ANSA)

VON DER LEYEN IN TOKYO

Russia is the "most direct threat" to the international order due to its invasion of Ukraine: so from Tokyo the President of the European Commission Ursula

.

"This brings me to Russia. Today it is the most direct threat to world order with the barbaric war against Ukraine, and it has a worrying pact with China," he said after meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida along with the president. of the European Council Charles Michel.

MINISTER KULEBA FOR THE EU: RESERVE A PLACE FOR US

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitro Kuleba asks the EU "to reserve a place for Ukraine".

This is what he said in response to an interview with Ard TV in Berlin, where he arrived today to participate in the G7 of foreign ministers in Schleswig-Holstein.

"We are not talking about a quick entry as EU members, but we believe it is very important that a place be reserved for Ukraine".

"We hear many times that Ukraine belongs to Europe", he concluded.