Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is planning to deploy troops in Belarus this year and try to drag the country into war. In particular, he could threaten Poland or the Baltic states from there. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told reporters after a press conference with British Foreign Secretary David Lemmy.

In an interview with Piers Morgan, Zelensky said he is willing to engage in direct talks with Putin "if that is the only setup in which we can bring peace to the citizens of Ukraine..." "I will not be kind to him.

The Kremlin on Wednesday dismissed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky saying he was ready for direct talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin as "empty words".