Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Tuesday expressed his government’s willingness to engage in peace talks with Russia “in any format,” provided that a ceasefire is first established.
Speaking during a press briefing at the presidential office in Kyiv, Zelenskiy said, “We are ready to record that after a ceasefire, we are ready to sit down in any format so that there are no dead ends.” He emphasized that negotiations can only begin once active hostilities have stopped, and cautioned that any agreement would take time to finalize.
His remarks come amid signs of renewed diplomatic activity. According to the Financial Times, Russian President Vladimir Putin may be considering halting military operations along the current front lines of the conflict, which is now in its fourth year. The report, citing sources familiar with the matter, suggests that Putin proposed during a recent meeting with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff to suspend Russia’s push for full control over four partially occupied Ukrainian regions: Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia.
The proposal, if confirmed, would mark a significant shift from Russia’s earlier territorial ambitions. European officials reportedly view the move as a potential tactical maneuver.
In parallel, Zelenskiy confirmed that Ukraine’s delegation will be authorized to discuss a full or partial ceasefire during talks with European and U.S. officials scheduled for Wednesday in London. The meeting follows earlier discussions held in Paris last week.
Meanwhile, the White House announced that Witkoff will return to Russia later this week for further discussions with the Kremlin.
Separately, The Washington Post reported that Washington has proposed a deal that would recognize Russia’s annexation of Crimea and freeze the conflict along current lines. Crimea, seized by Russia in 2014, was not mentioned in Putin’s alleged offer, according to the Financial Times.
Zelenskiy has consistently rejected any recognition of Russia’s occupation of Crimea or other Ukrainian territories, citing constitutional violations. Nonetheless, he has indicated a willingness to pursue diplomatic avenues to reclaim these regions.
Nzubechukwu Eze.
