Ukraine denies Western pressure to soften stance on talks with Russia

FILE PHOTO: People walk on a dark street, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in the old town of Kyiv, Ukraine November 6, 2022. REUTERS/Murad Sezer

KYIV (Reuters) - Ukraine denied on Tuesday that it was under Western pressure to negotiate with Russia, doubling down on its insistence that talks could be held only if Russia relinquishes all of the territory it has occupied since its invasion in February.

The remarks by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy followed a Washington Post report on Saturday that the United States had encouraged Ukraine to signal willingness for talks. Zelenskiy's comments also coincided with U.S. midterm elections whose outcome could test Western support for Ukraine.