Zelenskyy comments on peace agreement without trusting Putin
Photo: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Getty Images)
Most wars in history have ended without trust between the sides, and Russia's war against Ukraine could become one of them, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says in an interview with ABC News.
"Most wars historically, if you read the books, ended when the sides didn't even start trusting each other. Mediators helped, circumstances, the common sense of third countries, the majority of the world, and the powerful of this world. Everyone understood that war is not just about starting and ending," the President emphasized.
Zelenskyy also noted that even after the war ends, there will be a "long tail."
"It doesn't just end like that. And it affects many different countries and directions. The economy, energy, security, food security in other countries. That's why the world must be interested in ending the war. And whatever the case, if it's not a capitulation like that of Nazi Germany in World War II, then most wars ended with some sort of agreements," Zelenskyy stressed.
What is needed to end war
According to the President, to end the war in Ukraine, third parties are needed - those who are ready to pressure the aggressor.
"We're ready for a meeting, for everything that America proposes. Everything that President Trump is saying now - we support it because we believe that he can put pressure on the Russians. We are speaking completely openly. Do we like the idea of just a ceasefire today, without security guarantees? No, not really. But do we support it? Yes, we support it. We were ready for a ceasefire - a stable and lasting one," Zelenskyy noted.
The Ukrainian leader recalled that his country was ready for a 30-day ceasefire or until a meeting between Ukraine and Russia.
Who can be mediator
"Certain representatives of the Trump administration offered proposals to both sides - we supported all the proposals. Russia didn't support a single one. So who doesn't want to end the war? This isn't a rhetorical question. It's a very specific, clear question," said Zelenskyy.
At the same time, the Ukrainian President emphasized that this topic should not be turned into philosophy.
"If the sides don't want to, then we just have to wait? That's not true. Our side wants to. We didn't want the war to begin, we weren't planning to surrender to Putin. We are not ready for ultimatums, but we do want to end the war. We are ready for a specific ceasefire - the one proposed by the American side, which we saw as a guarantor of monitoring the ceasefire, and as a mediator," Zelenskyy concluded.
Talks in Istanbul and role of US
Ukraine and Russia have already held two rounds of talks in Istanbul. However, US representatives were not present at those meetings, even though Washington was the one insisting on peace negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow.
At present, Türkiye is acting as the mediator in the negotiations.
Ukrainian political analyst Volodymyr Fesenko noted that the US initiated direct talks between Ukraine and Russia, but then stepped aside. Currently, the United States is not participating in the negotiations - neither as a mediator nor as a moderator.
According to Zelenskyy, the Russians did everything to push the US out of the negotiating platform.
