KYIV — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced that Ukraine is open to direct negotiations with Russia to bring an end to the ongoing conflict, contingent upon Russia’s agreement to a complete ceasefire. This declaration marks a notable change in Ukraine’s stance, as the nation has previously refrained from engaging in direct talks with the Kremlin since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Shift in Diplomatic Approach
Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of Russia’s actions, stating, “If the Russians, and it depends on them, again we saw this at Easter, they can reduce strikes when they want to … If the Russians are ready for a complete ceasefire, then after a complete ceasefire is established, we are ready for any format of negotiations with them.” This statement was made during a press conference in Kyiv on Tuesday.
In a parallel development, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed a willingness to engage in dialogue with Ukraine, particularly in light of Zelenskyy’s suggestion to cease attacks on civilian infrastructure. Reports indicate that Putin has proposed to halt the invasion along the current front lines in exchange for U.S. recognition of Russian sovereignty over Crimea, which was illegally annexed in 2014, as well as some territories occupied during the recent conflict.
International Reactions and Upcoming Discussions
The renewed willingness for discussions follows comments from U.S. President Donald Trump, who warned that he might withdraw from negotiations if either party continued to obstruct the ceasefire efforts. Trump also expressed hope that a deal could be reached this week between Ukraine and Russia.
On Wednesday, Ukrainian officials, alongside European allies, will engage in talks with U.S. representatives in London regarding a ceasefire plan supported by Washington. Zelenskyy mentioned, “Tomorrow in London, our team has a mandate to officially discuss an unconditional ceasefire or a partial one. We are ready for this stage. We are also ready to record that we are ready to sit down at the negotiating table in any format so that there is no deadlock.”
As of now, Ukraine has not received an official proposal from the U.S., but various suggestions have emerged through different channels. Reports indicate that the U.S. plan might require Ukraine to abandon its aspirations for NATO membership and recognize the territories currently under occupation as Russian.
Ukraine has consistently rejected any compromises regarding its territorial integrity, as its constitution explicitly prohibits the acknowledgment of occupied regions as Russian. Zelenskyy cautioned that “Discussing everything at once will only prolong [the] war and lead to U.S. fatigue and withdrawal or pressure on Ukraine. If [a] ceasefire happens, we will believe that we have at least some result; we will see that Russia is really ready for real steps.”
“If [a] ceasefire happens, we will believe that we have at least some result, we will see that Russia is really ready for real steps.”