Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed his readiness for direct negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and other global powers to end the war that the Kremlin launched nearly three years ago.
During an interview with Piers Morgan on the Piers Morgan Uncensored YouTube channel, Zelensky stated that he would engage in direct talks with Putin “if it were the only option to bring peace to the people of Ukraine.”
“If that’s the only way to achieve peace, we will accept it – a four-party meeting,” Zelensky said.
Although he did not specify the other participants, Morgan had previously suggested a possible negotiation format involving Ukraine, Russia, the U.S., and the European Union.
Renewed Talks Amid Trump’s Return
Speculation about potential peace talks has intensified following Donald Trump’s return to the White House in January 2025.
Zelensky had long rejected the idea of negotiations, emphasizing Ukraine’s goal of defeating Russia on the battlefield. A Ukrainian decree from October 2022 explicitly ruled out negotiations as long as Putin remains in power.
However, Ukraine currently faces mounting challenges, including Russian advances in the east and concerns that U.S. military aid could be reduced or cut off, given Trump’s previous criticism of assistance to Kyiv.
Moscow and Kyiv Remain Far Apart
Despite Zelensky’s statement, no concrete plans for negotiations have been presented, and significant gaps remain between the positions of Kyiv and Moscow.
In late January, Putin stated that he is open to negotiations but dismissed direct talks with Zelensky, claiming that Kyiv lacks the “will” to engage in meaningful discussions.
For now, the prospect of peace talks remains hypothetical, with both sides still deeply entrenched in their positions.
