Addressing an audience at the World Economic Forum in Davos via video link, Zelensky added that arranging any talks with Russia had become more difficult in light of what he said was "evidence of Russian actions against civilians under occupation."

He added that any idea of retaking the Crimea by force, which Russia annexed in 2014, would lead to hundreds of thousands of casualties, according to what was quoted by the "Reuters" agency.

The Ukrainian president had reiterated his demands for imposing more economic pressure and sanctions on Russia due to the military operation it launched on his country's territory, which has entered its fourth month.

In a video speech, he said, in front of the Forum, that "the world is facing a turning point, and it must tighten sanctions on Moscow to warn other countries that are considering the use of brute force." 

Zelensky has repeatedly asked Putin to meet face to face. "I think that whoever started this war will be able to end it," he told a news conference at a metro station in the heart of the Ukrainian capital.

The Ukrainian president took the opportunity to appeal to the world to support his country with more weapons and impose "maximum" sanctions on Moscow. "I think that there are not yet sanctions of this kind on Russia, but they should be imposed," he said.

Kremlin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, announced on the 13th of this month that Moscow does not object in principle to a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, but a final document must be prepared.