Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Ukraine looking at neutrality before next conflict talks

Kremlin said Sweden and Austria offered models of neutrality that Ukraine could adopt to help end the conflict

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. AP

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksyy said on Sunday that a Russian demand for the country's neutrality — a key issue for Moscow at conflict negotiations — was being closely looked at by Kyiv's negotiators.

"This point of the negotiations is understandable to me and it is being discussed, it is being carefully studied," Mr Zelenskyy told independent Russian news outlets.

The Kremlin this month said Sweden and Austria offered models of neutrality that Ukraine could adopt to help end Russia's invasion.

Ukraine rejected the proposal, saying only Kyiv could design a system that would be acceptable to Ukrainians.

Mr Zelenskyy accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of dragging out negotiations and prolonging the conflict.

"We have to come to an agreement with the President of the Russian Federation," he said. "But to reach an agreement, he has to get up from where he is and come and meet me."

A woman walks past a poster depicting Russian President Vladimir Putin holding his own body, as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues, in Sofia, Bulgaria. Reuters

A man walks past a residential area destroyed by a rocket strike in Kyiv. Getty Images

Ukraine refugees wait in the train station in Przemysl, near the Polish-Ukrainian border. More than 3.8 million have fled Ukraine since Russia's invasion. AFP

Ukrainian civilians receive weapons training at a shooting range in Brno, Czech Republic. EPA

A Ukrainian special police officer patrols near a destroyed building during the night curfew in Kharkiv. AP Photo

A Ukrainian serviceman walks past the wreck of a Russian tank in Lukyanivka, Kyiv. Reuters

Ukrainian Air Force jets take part in a defence drill over an unidentified location. Reuters

Valentina Demura, 70, near the ruins of her home in apartment block in the besieged southern port city of Mariupol. Reuters

A message of support for Ukraine at the 94th Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California. Reuters

The widow of sergeant Kostiantyn Deriuhin stands at her husband's grave after his funeral at Lychakiv cemetery in Lviv, Ukraine. Reuters

A walk amid the ruins after a Russian attack in Byshiv on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine. AP

A soldier of the Ukrainian territorial defence forces gives a salute during a break in digging a foxhole at Kalynivka, on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine. AP

A bust adorned with a headband in the colours of the Ukraine flag at a checkpoint in Kyiv, Ukraine. AP

The Cheremosh Folk Song and Dance Ensemble performs in the streets of the Old Town in Lviv, Ukraine. Getty

Eugene Grigorash says goodbye to his wife Victoria Grigorash and their seven-month-old son Roman as their bus leaves Lviv on its way to Poland. Getty

People head for an air raid shelter after sirens sound across Lviv in Ukraine. Getty

A pro-Ukraine rally at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington. EPA

The aftermath of an air strike on the western Ukrainian city of Lviv. AFP

A protester weeps as she takes part in a 'mothers' march' for Ukraine, in New York. AFP

Local people share a basement of a historical building which is being used as a bomb shelter during an air raid warning in Lviv. EPA

US President Joe Biden kisses a child while meeting refugees of Russia's war with Ukraine at PGE Narodowy Stadium in Warsaw, Poland. AFP

A Ukrainian soldier stands guard at Independence Square in Kyiv. AFP

Municipal employees cover the city's monuments with sand bags to protect them from strikes in Kharkiv. AFP

Misha, 5, who lost his mother some weeks ago and got injured during a Russian strike, is helped by his grandfather to dress up in the basement of a hospital in Mykolaiv. AFP

Ukrainian refugees rest in the ticket hall of Przemysl Glowny train station. Reuters

A woman walks past destroyed houses in the village of Krasylivka outside Kyiv. Reuters

A man climbs up a ladder to examine his destroyed house in the village of Krasylivka outside Kyiv. Reuters

Damage inside an Orthodox Church building in Yasnohorodka, on the outskirts of Kyiv. AP

A Ukrainian soldier at a psychiatric hospital damaged by a Russian bombing, in Mykolaiv. AP

Displaced people from Dnipro arrive in Lviv, in western Ukraine. Millions are internally displaced. Getty Images

A destroyed school in Kharkiv. AFP

A Ukrainian fighter on the front line in the north Kyiv region. Reuters

A resident walks past blazing buildings and vehicles after a Russian artillery strike in Kharkiv. AFP

Black smoke billows from a fuel depot near Kyiv that was used by the Ukrainian Army before it was hit by during a Russian strike. AP

Masha, 26, checks her mobile phone at an air raid shelter inside a Kyiv metro station. Reuters

A market on fire in Kharkiv after a Russian attack. AP

People try to recover items from a shop set on fire during a Russian attack in Kharkiv. AP

Nastya Kuzyk, 20, who was injured in an attack on Chernihiv, is comforted by her mother Svitlana, 50, as she recovers in a Kyiv hospital. AP

Russian regulator Roskomnadzor warned media outlets against broadcasting the interview with Mr Zelenskyy, saying they could be subject to investigation and action could be taken against them.

Negotiations to end more than a month of fighting in Ukraine have focused on disarmament and security guarantees, and Kyiv staying out of Nato.

The two sides are due to meet for a second round of direct talks next week in Turkey.

Ukraine said that round would take place in Turkey from Monday to Wednesday, just over one month into Russia's invasion of Ukraine, David Arakhamia, a Ukraine negotiator and politician, wrote on Facebook.

Russia's lead negotiator in the conflict, Vladimir Medinsky, confirmed the talks with Ukraine, but gave a slightly different time frame, saying they would start on Tuesday and end on Wednesday.

Russia and Ukraine failed to make a breakthrough in their first top-level talks, on March 10 in Antalya, since Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine on February 24.

The two sides have held regular talks by video conference but offered scant hopes for any breakthroughs with both sides describing efforts as difficult.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erodgan said this week that Russia and Ukraine appeared to have reached an understanding on four out of six negotiating points.

They were Ukraine staying out of Nato, the use of Russian language in Ukraine, disarmament and security guarantees.

But Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Friday that there was "no consensus" on key points with Russia.