Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday called on international allies to establish a framework for potential peace talks with Russia, emphasizing that Kyiv’s participation is essential for meaningful and lasting negotiations.
His remarks come amid growing speculation about the possibility of talks to end the devastating conflict, which has claimed tens of thousands of lives over nearly three years of fighting.
“I understand that contacts can take different formats,” Zelensky said, referencing discussions aimed at achieving “a just peace.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin, earlier this week, expressed willingness to engage in talks with newly inaugurated U.S. President Donald Trump, describing him as a “smart” leader who might have prevented the war from erupting in February 2022. However, Putin did not specify a timeline for such talks, and the Kremlin noted it was awaiting “signals” from Washington.
Trump, who took office on Monday, has called the conflict “ridiculous” and threatened Russia with harsher economic sanctions unless it halts its offensive. On Thursday, he publicly declared his readiness to meet Putin “immediately.”
In Kyiv, Zelensky insisted that any negotiations to end the war must involve the United States, Ukraine, Russia, and the European Union.
“I can’t say today what kind of negotiations will take place or what the structure of the process will be, as we don’t yet have a common plan,” Zelensky said.
He reiterated Ukraine’s stance that excluding Kyiv from any talks would render them ineffective. “It is impossible to exclude Ukraine from any negotiation platform, or the results will be political rather than practical,” he warned.
Zelensky cautioned that such outcomes would fail to address security concerns or bring an end to the war.
The Ukrainian leader has previously proposed multiple frameworks for peace, including his “victory plan” unveiled during a Ukraine summit last year, which gathered representatives from dozens of nations and international organizations.
