Zelenskyy says he'll only meet Putin when Ukraine gets security guarantees

He mentioned Switzerland, Austria or Turkey as possible venues for the talks.

UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR Zelenskyy has said he will meet Russia’s Vladimir Putin but only after his country has received security guarantees to ensure Russia does not re-invade.

He mentioned Switzerland, Austria or Turkey as possible venues for the talks.

“We want to have an understanding of the security guarantees architecture within 7–10 days,” Zelenskyy said.

“Based on that understanding, we aim to hold a trilateral meeting,” he said. The trilateral would involve Zelenskyy, Putin and US President Donald Trump.

Despite efforts to move towards a peace deal, Russia has continued to pound Ukraine with strikes, while Ukraine has carried out testing of a long-range cruise missile.

Russia launched hundreds of drones and missiles against Ukraine overnight in the biggest barrage since mid-July, killing one person and wounding many others.

Ukrainian officials said the strikes showed Russia was not serious about a peace deal.

“Russia continues to demonstrate that it is not interested in peace,” Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said. “Last night, Ukraine was subjected to a large-scale combined strike: drones, cruise and ballistic missiles, even hypersonic weapons.”

Ukraine’s air force said Russia launched 574 drones and 40 missiles. Air defence units downed 546 drones and 31 missiles.

“One person was killed and two were wounded as a result of the combined UAV and cruise missile strike in Lviv,” said Maksym Kozytskyi, head of the military administration in the western city’s region.

“Dozens of residential buildings were damaged,” he added.

Russian fire also wounded 12 people in the city of Mukachevo near the border with Hungary and Slovakia, the city council said.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga said there was “no military logic or necessity” to the strikes, adding they were “just terror against people”.

Russia’s defence ministry said it destroyed “49 Ukrainian aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles” across multiple regions. The ministry did not detail any casualties or damage.

Meanwhile, Ukraine has tested a long-range cruise missile known as Flamingo that can strike targets at 3,000 kilometres.

Zelenskyy said mass production could begin by February.

“The missile has undergone successful tests. It is currently our most successful missile — it can fly 3,000 kilometres, which is significant,” he said.

Additional reporting by AFP