At a press conference in Kyiv, he stated that there is “no alternative” to an ultimately durable peace deal to end the war. “No frozen occupations! No people abandoned in [Russian] captivity!” RBC-Ukraine quoted Zelenskyy. In their questions, journalists referred to recent media reports and “circulating rumors” about ongoing back-channel negotiations with Moscow. Turkey and Qatar have been names as principal mediators of these talks. The president was asked how serious these talks are and when official negotiations could take place. “To talk with the Russians, authority is needed, and I haven’…