Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Tuesday that Kyiv is prepared to take part in peace negotiations with Russia but will not agree to withdraw its troops from additional territory, rejecting Moscow’s key precondition for talks.
Speaking to reporters after meeting visiting Dutch Foreign Minister David van Weel, Zelenskyy said he was open to discussions “anywhere” except in Russia or its ally Belarus.
“If there will be results, then God bless, let the talks take place anywhere,” he said. “It almost doesn’t matter, just not in Russia, of course, and definitely not in Belarus.”
His comments come amid renewed diplomatic efforts to end the war, including a proposed summit in Budapest between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, which has been put on hold after Moscow insisted that Ukraine must cede more territory as a condition for a ceasefire.
Trump has publicly backed Ukraine’s call for an immediate ceasefire along current front lines, a stance that Kyiv hopes will form the foundation for further negotiations.
Zelenskyy emphasized that stopping the fighting was the immediate priority. “It is not a plan to end the war. First of all, a ceasefire is needed,” he said. “This is a plan to begin diplomacy.”
He confirmed that Ukrainian and European officials would meet on Friday or Saturday to discuss the details of a potential ceasefire framework. “Our advisers will meet in the coming days,” Zelenskyy said. “They will discuss the details of this plan.”
Zelenskyy also urged U.S. lawmakers to strengthen restrictions on Russia following Trump’s sanctions on the country’s two largest oil companies, calling for tougher measures to curb Moscow’s ability to finance its war.
The Ukrainian leader said his country would require stable financial support from European allies for another two to three years and expressed hope that China could use its influence over Russia to help end the conflict.
“We would like very much for China to put pressure on Russia to end this war and not to assist its continuation in any way,” he said.
While Zelenskyy signaled readiness for peace talks, he reaffirmed that Ukraine would not accept any settlement requiring it to surrender more land. “Our position is clear, no additional concessions, no giving up our territory,” he said.
The renewed diplomatic movement suggests cautious optimism, but the fundamental divide between Kyiv and Moscow remains: Ukraine seeks peace without capitulation, while Russia continues to demand territorial recognition before ending the war.
Source: Reuters
Written By Rodney Mbua
