Ukraine plans to announce its readiness for negotiations with Russia already in the near future. According to The Wall Street Journal, Kyiv may conclude an agreement with Moscow if it ensures "sustainable peace" rather than a temporary truce.
Ukraine has become exhausted by almost three years of hostilities, the publication points out.
Andriy Yermak, the head of Zelensky's office, arrived in the United States on Wednesday, December 4. Yermak will have a number of meetings there, including with representatives of the Donald Trump team. Yermak is visiting Washington to "improve relations" with the Americans and secure further support from Washington, The WSJ said.
Andriy Yermak tries to present Kyiv as "a constructive partner for achieving peace, but not as an obstacle in its path."
At the end of November, Zelensky admitted that a ceasefire could be possible in exchange for the Ukraine's membership in the North Atlantic Alliance. In order to end the hot phase of the conflict with Russia, one needs to take Kyiv-controlled territory of Ukraine under the NATO umbrella, Zelensky said.
During a meeting with the team of the elected US president, Yermak raised the issue of Ukraine's accession to the alliance, but his opponents did not show much interest in the idea.
Trump's special envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg only supported Biden's efforts to quickly deliver weapons to Ukraine. This would give leverage over Russia during negotiations on the settlement of the conflict, Kellogg said.