On Tuesday (April 22), Ukrainian President Zelensky stated that if Russia agrees to a comprehensive ceasefire, Ukraine is prepared to engage in direct negotiations with Moscow to end the war. This statement comes after Russian President Putin expressed openness to reaching an agreement on Monday.
This proposal marks a significant shift in attitude from both sides. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the two parties have not engaged in direct talks for over two years.
Zelensky spoke at a press conference in Kyiv on Tuesday, stating, “If the Russian side is willing—it depends on them, we have seen them able to control and reduce attacks during Easter. If Russia is ready for a complete ceasefire, then after confirming the ceasefire, we are prepared to negotiate with them in any form.”
Putin, in an interview with Russian state-owned television reporter Pavel Zarubin, said, “We have always stated that we have a positive attitude towards any peace initiatives. We hope that representatives of the Kyiv government will also hold the same position.”
Subsequently, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov further explained that Putin’s comments indicate his willingness to engage in direct dialogue with Ukrainian representatives.
“When the president mentioned the issue of discussing not targeting civilian objects, including in a bilateral format, he meant negotiations and discussions with the Ukrainian side,” Peskov said.
Last week, U.S. President Trump and Secretary of State Rubio clearly stated that if either Russia or Ukraine made negotiations “very difficult,” the U.S. would consider withdrawing from mediation.
Meanwhile, on Sunday (April 20), Trump posted on his social media platform “Truth Social,” stating, “Hope that Russia and Ukraine can reach an agreement this week. Both sides will then start robust business cooperation with the United States and receive substantial rewards!”
On Wednesday (April 23), Ukrainian officials and European allies will meet with U.S. representatives in London to discuss a ceasefire plan supported by Washington. Zelensky stated, “Tomorrow in London, our team has the right to formally discuss an unconditional or partial ceasefire. We are prepared to enter this stage and are willing to document our readiness to sit down for negotiations in any form to avoid a stalemate.”
Zelensky added, “Discussing all issues simultaneously will only prolong the war, leading to U.S. fatigue, withdrawal, or pressure on Ukraine. If a ceasefire is achieved, we will believe that at least some progress has been made and see if Russia is truly ready to take concrete actions.”
(This article referenced relevant reports from “Politico” and Reuters.)