Ukraine president threatens to quit talks if Russia holds ‘pseudo-referendums’ in occupied areas

KYIV – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Saturday that Kyiv would quit talks with Moscow if Russia destroys Ukraine’s people in the city of Mariupol and holds “pseudo-referendums” to create “pseudo-republics” in Russian-occupied areas.

The Ukrainian president was speaking at a news conference in Kyiv.

(Reporting by Natalia Zinets; writing by Tom Balmforth; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky)