MARIUPOL. Feb 17 (Interfax) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he is ready for any format of negotiations with Russia in order to achieve peace in Donbas.
"I am ready for any format [of negotiations]," Zelensky told journalists in Mariupol on Thursday.
Ukraine has lodged official requests and tried to get in touch with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the concentration of Russian troops near Ukraine's borders, he said.
"Ukraine has not been left without an answer, but the answer is not one that would lead to a meeting. No one has even confirmed a [potential] telephone conversation," he said.
"Apart from their public position, in reality they [Russia] are not ready to communicate with us; they do not want to," Zelensky said.