Zelenskyy is ready to talk to Putin: in what format are negotiations possible?
17 October 22:58
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he is ready to hold talks with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin in any format, bilateral or with the participation of intermediaries. He said this during a meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports
Zelensky stressed that Ukraine is open to dialogue, but the talks should not be aimed at concessions, but at ending the war.
According to Zelensky, negotiations are needed first, and then a ceasefire. Ukraine, unlike the Kremlin, is interested in peace.
“I think we need to sit down and talk. Then we need a ceasefire. We want peace, Putin does not,” the president said.
He added that he would discuss with U.S. President Donald Trump everything that would be needed to effectively push the Russian dictator to the negotiating table.
Meeting at the White House: a common strategy with Trump
It is noted that Trump personally met Zelenskyy and escorted him into the building.
The meeting between the US and Ukrainian presidents began with a half-hour delay, and there were no special statements to the press from the White House.
According to media reports, one of the reporters managed to ask Trump if he believed he could convince Putin to end the war in Ukraine.
“Yes, we can,” he replied.
After the meeting with Zelenskyy, Trump plans to fly to his residence in Palm Beach, Florida.
During their conversation in Washington, Zelenskyy and Trump discussed possible steps to put pressure on Russia and options for getting the Kremlin to the negotiating table.
According to media reports, Washington is considering a trilateral negotiation format involving Ukraine, the United States, and Russia.
Putin and Trump’s diplomatic maneuvers
On the eve of the meeting at the White House, Donald Trump called Vladimir Putin for the first time in two months.
Next week, representatives of Russia and the United States are scheduled to meet, followed by Trump’s talks with Putin in Budapest.
Budapest has a symbolic meaning for Ukraine, as it is the place where the Budapest Memorandum was signed in 1994, guaranteeing our country’s security in exchange for giving up nuclear weapons.
Why Zelensky’s statement is important right now
- After a series of Russian attacks on energy infrastructure, the issue of a ceasefire has become particularly relevant.
- International support for Ukraine remains key, and the meeting with Trump is an attempt to strengthen the transatlantic dialogue.
- The statement of readiness for negotiations is a signal to allies and enemies that Kyiv wants peace, but on fair terms.
What’s next
The coming weeks could be crucial on the diplomatic front. If the U.S.-Russia talks in Budapest do take place, Ukraine expects the issue of war and peace to be at the top of the agenda.
