Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has outlined his conditions for negotiations between the United States and Russia, urging US President Donald Trump to involve Kyiv in any peace talks with Moscow.
Zelensky believes that a ceasefire deal could be reached under Trump's leadership but insists Ukraine must have a seat at the negotiating table.
"Otherwise, it won't work. Russia doesn't want to end the armed conflict, but Ukraine does,” the Ukrainian president stated.
He expressed confidence that Trump understands the complexities of the peace process, emphasizing that the conflict must be resolved to prevent further escalation. However, Zelensky also voiced doubts about Russia's willingness to end hostilities.
President Zelensky acknowledged the possibility of negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He underscored the importance of security guarantees for Ukraine, stating that if Trump can provide such assurances, Kyiv would pursue a diplomatic path.
Zelensky also advised Trump to prioritize dialogue with Kyiv over Moscow in addressing the Ukraine conflict. While acknowledging Trump's apparent desire to end the conflict, Zelensky noted that details of how this might be achieved remain unclear, even to officials in Kyiv.
Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed his readiness to negotiate a ceasefire with Putin, setting himself apart from his predecessor Joe Biden. During his election campaign, Trump promised to resolve the conflict within 24 hours of taking office. However, he later tasked special envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, with resolving the conflict within 100 days.
Trump emphasized his historically positive relationship with Putin, despite what he referred to as the "Russia hoaxes” propagated by radical left-wing groups in the United States.
For his part, Russian President Vladimir Putin has reiterated that Moscow remains open to dialogue. He pointed out that Zelensky has imposed restrictions on himself, prohibiting negotiations with Moscow.
"We have always stated, and I want to emphasize again, that we are ready for these talks regarding the Ukrainian issue,” Putin said, responding to Trump's interest in discussing the resolution of the conflict with Moscow.
Putin described his relationship with Trump as professional and pragmatic, noting that Moscow recognizes Trump's willingness to engage in constructive cooperation and remains open to such efforts.