Zelenskyy: Ukraine and Russia Must Begin Genuine Negotiations to End the War
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine and Russia must move toward substantive negotiations to end the war. He also noted that a segment of Russian society is already expressing dissatisfaction with the duration of the hostilities. According to him, Kyiv has repeatedly proposed formats for dialogue.
Ukraine and Russia must move toward substantive negotiations to end the war, as prolonging the hostilities only deepens the crisis and yields no results. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made this statement in his evening address.
He emphasized that, in his assessment, dissatisfaction is growing within Russian society over the war, which continues with no clear end in sight. “A majority in Russia is already criticizing Putin, saying that his war has no end in sight,” Zelenskyy said.
The president stressed that the consequences of the war are increasingly affecting Russians themselves, which, in his view, should prompt them to realize the need to end it. “And all the current hardships faced by Russians should bring them closer to the realization that their war is real and that it must end,” he noted.
Zelenskyy also stated that Ukraine has repeatedly proposed various formats for launching substantive negotiations with Russia, but the process has effectively stalled. According to him, the negotiation process between the parties has not progressed this year because Moscow refuses to continue the dialogue and shows no willingness to hold meetings at the leadership level.
At the same time, the president emphasized that Ukraine continues to insist on the need for a political and diplomatic solution, but only on the condition of a genuine, substantive dialogue, rather than a mere imitation of the process. This was announced in an evening address by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree establishing the Vozdvizhivska Rural Military Administration in the Polohivsky District of Zaporizhzhia Oblast and approved the appointment of its head.
