During a conversation with journalists, President Volodymyr Zelensky made a number of important statements regarding Ukraine’s defense strategy, the situation on the front lines, army funding, and the prospects for a peaceful settlement of the war with Russia. This was reported by Interfax-Ukraine.
On missile attacks and defense capabilities
Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine will be able to respond to Russian missile strikes if it receives adequate funding:
“We can surprise Russia if we have the funds. We will find a response to all their missiles. If we have funding for a certain period of time.”
According to him, Ukraine needs $30 billion per year to launch defense production at full capacity, including for its own missile program and other weapons.
On mobilization and the current situation at the front
The president noted that Russia is mobilizing 50,000 people every month and paying them over $10,000 under contract. At the same time, the pace of mobilization in Ukraine remains stable, and the General Staff is acting according to plan.
Zelensky also confirmed that Ukraine is obtaining weapons and ammunition through international purchases, although the share of non-free aid has been growing recently:
“We have started to find non-free options. This is important for us.”
On prisoner exchanges
Zelensky said that Russia refuses to return foreign citizens fighting for Ukraine, including Muslims and Belarusians:
“The Russians do not want to give up citizens of other countries because they want to influence relations with those states. Sometimes they need pressure, sometimes they need to exchange them for their special agents.”
On readiness for peace talks
The president said he was ready to meet with Vladimir Putin if the meeting concerned a real ceasefire:
“We are ready to meet immediately at the leadership level. Both the American and Russian sides know this. The format does not matter: Trump-Putin-me or one at a time.”
Zelensky believes that the US can play a key role in monitoring a potential ceasefire. If security guarantees are discussed, Ukraine wants European countries to also be at the negotiating table.
On finances at the front and drone production
The president said that Ukrainian brigades currently have 16-20 billion hryvnia in their accounts, and some of the drones, including MAVs, are already being produced by the units themselves.
Separately, Zelensky drew attention to China’s indirect assistance to Russia, mentioning the ban on the sale of civilian drones to Ukraine, while the Russians still have this opportunity:
“Mavic is closed to Ukraine, open to Russia. Is this assistance or not?”
On the ceasefire
Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Kyiv supports an unconditional ceasefire and is ready for direct negotiations with Russia, including with the participation of the US, the EU, or other mediators. However, according to him, Moscow was not ready for this during the last meeting in Istanbul, Interfax-Ukraine reports.
“We supported an unconditional ceasefire and a transition to diplomacy in one form or another… almost anywhere in the civilized world,” the president said during a meeting with journalists on May 27.
Zelensky recalled that an important agreement had been reached in Istanbul on the exchange of thousands of prisoners, calling it a positive result. However, on the key issue—a ceasefire—the Russian side showed no willingness.
“Russia was not ready. They said they would return with some signals. The same was conveyed to the US and recorded by the Turkish side,“ the president said.
According to Zelensky, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov was in contact with Russian representative Vladimir Medinsky, and the Russians promised to hand over a so-called ”memorandum” — a document outlining Moscow’s next steps.
“They have to give us what they call a memorandum. It will contain their vision — whether Russia is ready for a ceasefire and a meeting at the leadership level. We will read these proposals and respond precisely,” the head of state emphasized.
Zelensky added that Ukraine is open to negotiations in any format: bilateral, trilateral (for example, Trump-Putin-Zelensky), or through international mediators — the main thing is that the issue of a ceasefire is central.