Zelenskyy signals readiness to meet Putin, warns words alone are not enough
Photo: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine (president.gov.ua)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskнy addressed questions about a potential meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin and the prospects for negotiations to end the war.
According to the President, current statements from the Kremlin appear contradictory. On one hand, Putin publicly speaks about a supposed willingness for peace, but on the other, Russia continues missile strikes on Ukraine and shows intentions to continue the war.
"It looks strange when Putin talks about wanting to end the war, but at the same time strikes us with missiles. These actions do not match the peaceful rhetoric he uses, including in his communications with Donald Trump," Zelenskyy emphasized.
He stressed that the format of a possible meeting or negotiations is not a principal issue for Ukraine; what matters most is that the words and real actions of the Russian leadership align.
"How we meet and in what format is irrelevant to us. We are ready. The important thing is that the words and actions of the Russian leader match," he said.
Trump–Zelenskyy meeting and remarks on Putin
On December 28, President Zelenskyy was in Florida, where he met with U.S. President Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago residence.
Ahead of the talks, Trump described his conversation with Putin as "good and very productive" and announced further contacts.
After the bilateral meeting and a call with European leaders, Zelenskyy and Trump addressed the press. Trump noted that Russia is trying to seize new territories, making it urgent to pursue a peace agreement. He also announced the creation of a US working group on Ukraine, said the effectiveness of a peace plan will become clear in a few weeks, and did not rule out a future meeting in a Trump–Zelenskyy–Putin format.
Trump separately confirmed that the issue of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant was actively discussed and claimed that Russia is allegedly interested in Ukraine’s success.
Meanwhile, Fox News reports that Zelenskyy may speak with Putin by phone for the first time in over five years.
"Sunday's talks between President Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy could pave the way for the first call between Zelenskyy and Russian president Vladimir Putin in more than five years," the outlet wrote, citing a source familiar with the discussions.
For a detailed breakdown of what both leaders said and what is known about past negotiations, read the article by RBC-Ukraine.
