• Latest
  • Trending
  • All
  • News
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
‘I Don’t Bite’: Zelenskyy Urges Putin to Sit Down for Talks but Not Be ’30 Meters Away’

‘I Don’t Bite’: Zelenskyy Urges Putin to Sit Down for Talks but Not Be ’30 Meters Away’

March 3, 2022
EXCLUSIVE: Small Biz Chief Pledges Zero Tolerance For Fraud After Biden Mission Drift

EXCLUSIVE: Small Biz Chief Pledges Zero Tolerance For Fraud After Biden Mission Drift

June 14, 2025
EXCLUSIVE: VA Will Save ‘Literally Millions Of Dollars’ By Scrapping Sex Changes, Sec Says

EXCLUSIVE: VA Will Save ‘Literally Millions Of Dollars’ By Scrapping Sex Changes, Sec Says

June 14, 2025
Authorities Identify Suspect In Assassination Of Minnesota Lawmaker

Authorities Identify Suspect In Assassination Of Minnesota Lawmaker

June 14, 2025
SEN. STEVE DAINES AND REP. STEVE WOMACK: Congress Should Be Able To Ban Flag Burning

SEN. STEVE DAINES AND REP. STEVE WOMACK: Congress Should Be Able To Ban Flag Burning

June 14, 2025
EXCLUSIVE: Thune Says Trump Nominees Are Being Confirmed At Rapid Pace Despite ‘Historic’ Obstruction

EXCLUSIVE: Thune Says Trump Nominees Are Being Confirmed At Rapid Pace Despite ‘Historic’ Obstruction

June 14, 2025
Democratic State Lawmaker, Husband Killed In ‘Politically-Motivated Assassination’

Democratic State Lawmaker, Husband Killed In ‘Politically-Motivated Assassination’

June 14, 2025
CASEY RYAN: Accreditors Wield Power To End DEI In Schools

CASEY RYAN: Accreditors Wield Power To End DEI In Schools

June 14, 2025
How NYC’s Little-Understood Voting System Could Lead To A Socialist Mayor

How NYC’s Little-Understood Voting System Could Lead To A Socialist Mayor

June 14, 2025
DAVID BLACKMON: Trump Ends Newsom’s Terrible Week By Killing His EV Mandate

DAVID BLACKMON: Trump Ends Newsom’s Terrible Week By Killing His EV Mandate

June 14, 2025
EXCLUSIVE: VA Sec Says Days Of Unions, Contractors Owning His Agency Are Over

EXCLUSIVE: VA Sec Says Days Of Unions, Contractors Owning His Agency Are Over

June 13, 2025
LA News Outlet Caught In Lie That ICE Targeted Pregnant Woman. It Really Went After Her Illegal Husband.

LA News Outlet Caught In Lie That ICE Targeted Pregnant Woman. It Really Went After Her Illegal Husband.

June 13, 2025
‘My Blood Is Boiling’: Dem Strategist Melts Down Over Alex Padilla Getting Booted From Noem Presser

‘My Blood Is Boiling’: Dem Strategist Melts Down Over Alex Padilla Getting Booted From Noem Presser

June 13, 2025
  • Donald Trump
  • State of the Union
  • Elon Musk
  • Tariffs
  • Congress
  • Faith
  • Immigration
Sunday, June 15, 2025
  • Login
IJR
  • Politics
  • US News
  • Commentary
  • World News
  • Faith
  • Latest Polls
No Result
View All Result
IJR
No Result
View All Result
Home News

‘I Don’t Bite’: Zelenskyy Urges Putin to Sit Down for Talks but Not Be ’30 Meters Away’

by Bradley Cortright
March 3, 2022
in News
250 2
0
‘I Don’t Bite’: Zelenskyy Urges Putin to Sit Down for Talks but Not Be ’30 Meters Away’

TOPSHOT - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during a press conference in Kyiv on March 3, 2022. - Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky called on the West on March 3, 2022, to increase military aid to Ukraine, saying Russia would advance on the rest of Europe otherwise. "If you do not have the power to close the skies, then give me planes!" Zelensky said at a press conference. "If we are no more then, God forbid, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia will be next," he said, adding: "Believe me." (Photo by Sergei SUPINSKY / AFP) (Photo by SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP via Getty Images)

491
SHARES
1.4k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is calling on Russian President Vladimir Putin to sit down for negotiations.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Zelenskyy said, “What do you want from us? Please leave our land. If you don’t want to leave now, sit down at the table of negotiations. I am free.”

He continued, “Sit down, but not 30 meters away, like with Macron or Scholz. I’m your neighbor. I don’t need to be 30 meters away. I don’t bite. I’m a normal guy, sit down with me and talk. What are you afraid of?”

Watch the video below:

Zelenskyy to Putin: "Please leave our land. If you don't want to leave now, sit down at the table of negotiations. I am free. Sit down, but not 30 meters away, like with Macron or Scholz. I'm your neighbor … I don't bite … Sit down with me and talk. What are you afraid of?" pic.twitter.com/POc3HqXmiK

— The Recount (@therecount) March 3, 2022

The Ukrainian president’s comment about being “30 meters away” is a reference to the treatment French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz received when they traveled to meet with Putin ahead of the invasion.

Pictures surfaced of the two leaders’ meetings with Putin. In each case, they were seated across a very large table from the Russian leader:

Observers were struck by images of Macron and Putin sitting at opposite ends of 4-meter-long table during their talks, with some diplomats and others suggesting Putin might be wanting to send a diplomatic message 3/5 pic.twitter.com/nAtb1TkFBb

— Reuters (@Reuters) February 11, 2022

Scholz gets the long-table treatment from Putin at the Kremlin. (Can't tell if the table is longer than it was for Macron) pic.twitter.com/oy2MmfVSnU

— Mike Eckel (@Mike_Eckel) February 15, 2022

After the invasion began, other pictures showed Putin meeting with Cabinet members and advisers, which also featured long tables.

Naturally Putin was sitting a healthy 15 feet away from Shoigu and Gerasimov at the end of a ridiculously long table when he told them to get the nukes out pic.twitter.com/xmNUn21Aa1

— max seddon (@maxseddon) February 27, 2022

The use of the long tables is reportedly due to Putin’s concerns about COVID-19 and for social distancing purposes.

Zelenskyy’s comments come a week after Russia began its invasion of Ukraine.

Putin claimed the purpose of the invasion was “for the demilitarisation and denazification of Ukraine.” However, there is no evidence that Nazi views are widespread in Ukraine, and Zelenskyy is Jewish.

As a stronger than expected resistance has reportedly frustrated Russia, it has ramped up its assault on Ukraine and has bombed civilian areas. The strikes have hit a hospital and broadcasting tower, and damaged a Holocaust memorial.

Karim Khan, the chief prosecutor for the international criminal court (ICC), announced he would investigate possible war crimes committed by Russia.

At least 1 million people have fled the country in the face of Russia’s attack.

Tags: politicsRussiaUkraineVladimir PutinVolodymyr Zelenskyyworld news
Share196Tweet123
Bradley Cortright

Bradley Cortright

IJR, Senior Writer He's written for Independent Journal Review since 2019.

Advertisements

Top Stories June 10th
Top Stories June 7th
Top Stories June 6th
Top Stories June 3rd
Top Stories May 30th
Top Stories May 29th
Top Stories May 24th
Top Stories May 23rd
Top Stories May 21st
Top Stories May 17th

Join Over 6M Subscribers

We’re organizing an online community to elevate trusted voices on all sides so that you can be fully informed.





IJR

    Copyright © 2024 IJR

Trusted Voices On All Sides

  • About Us
  • GDPR Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Editorial Standards & Corrections Policy
  • Subscribe to IJR

Follow Us

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Politics
  • US News
  • Commentary
  • World News
  • Faith
  • Latest Polls

    Copyright © 2024 IJR

Top Stories June 10th Top Stories June 7th Top Stories June 6th Top Stories June 3rd Top Stories May 30th Top Stories May 29th Top Stories May 24th Top Stories May 23rd Top Stories May 21st Top Stories May 17th