Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sees the holding of the meeting between the heads of state of Ukraine and Russia as an important task. “Our delegation has a clear task – to do everything so that the presidents meet,” Zelensky said in a video speech published Monday night.

It was a meeting he was sure everyone had been waiting for. This is a difficult path, but necessary to obtain an effective guarantee. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov did not rule out a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelensky on Russian state television on Sunday.

But you have to understand what should be the outcome of the meeting and what will be discussed there. Recently, representatives of the delegations from Ukraine and Russia expressed cautiously optimistic views on the negotiations. Further talks are planned in online format on Monday.

In light of recent Russian air strikes in western Ukraine, Zelensky has reiterated his call for NATO to establish a no-fly zone.

In his video message, he warned: “If you don’t close our skies, it’s only a matter of time before Russian missiles hit your territory, NATO territory and the homes of NATO civilians.”

A day earlier, Russia attacked a Ukrainian military base near the border with Poland. At least 35 people were killed and more than 130 were injured in an attack on a military base near Lemberg (Lviv), according to Ukrainian officials.