Ukraine is ready to negotiate with Russia without making concessions regarding its territories
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Kyiv remains open to negotiations with Russia but will not agree to any territorial concessions.
According to the president, there are differing views among Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s inner circle regarding how to proceed with the war.
“Half of them want to continue this war, while the other half want to stop it. Business leaders understand that the Russian economy is in terrible shape,” Zelenskyy noted.
The head of state emphasized that maintaining and intensifying international pressure on Russia remains a key factor in achieving peace.
“If Western countries—Europe, Canada, and the U.S.—do not lift sanctions, increase pressure on Russia’s shadow fleet and other sectors, and Ukraine remains strong on the battlefield, we will be closer to peace,” the president emphasized.
Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine did not seek war from the very beginning and has always been ready for a diplomatic settlement.
“I told this businessman, who came to convey a message about a potential framework for diplomatic negotiations, that we were ready to talk from the very beginning. We did not want this war and want to stop it,” the head of state said.
Commenting on contacts between Russia and the U.S. regarding the war, Zelenskyy reiterated his position on negotiations taking place without Kyiv’s participation.
“In Anchorage, Russia and the U.S. decided to discuss Ukraine without Ukraine. That was a mistake, especially for America, because Putin weakened the U.S. position. I think he lied to the President of the United States,” the president stated.
At the same time, Zelenskyy confirmed Ukraine’s readiness for the negotiation process but emphasized that Kyiv’s key position remains unchanged.
“In any case, we are ready to talk, but we will not give up our territory,” the head of state emphasized.
The president stressed that a diplomatic path to peace is possible only if international pressure on Russia is maintained and Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are protected.
The head of state said this in an interview with The Guardian.
European leaders are ready to take a leading role in negotiations to end Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine.
Zelenskyy published an open letter to Putin—full text.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Moscow is allegedly ready for negotiations to end the war against Ukraine, but sees no willingness for dialogue on the Ukrainian side.
Putin is not changing course and continues to finance the war.
