Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated his readiness to meet with Vladimir Putin, but not in Moscow or Kyiv. He also emphasized that handing over Donbas to Russia is unacceptable.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy said this in an interview with the Italian broadcaster RAI.
According to Zelenskyy, he does not consider the possibility of meeting with Putin either in the Ukrainian capital or in Moscow.
“I am ready to meet with Putin. Definitely not in Moscow and not in Kyiv. But if he is ready to meet with me, there are many places where this can be done. We can find one in the Middle East, in Europe, in the United States, anywhere,” said the Ukrainian president.
Speaking about Donbas, Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine cannot agree to its transfer to Russia. He noted that in such a case, Russian troops would occupy key positions “without any losses,” and Ukraine would need a long time to establish new lines of defense.
“It could take a year or a year and a half to build new lines of fortifications. They could attack Kharkiv and other cities that make up a significant portion of our GDP. And a rift would emerge in society. And any division is Putin’s key objective and the destruction of our independence,” he noted.
Regarding security guarantees, Zelenskyy stated that there is a risk of new Russian aggression in the future, so Ukraine expects Europe and the U.S. to participate in ensuring them. He also noted that holding elections during the war is impossible, as it violates the law and does not guarantee the safety of voters, particularly military personnel.
The president also commented on the ceasefire in Iran, congratulating the U.S. on the achievement and noting that it could alleviate the energy situation.
“This will help overcome this energy crisis. In any case, support for Ukraine, particularly the supply of weapons, must continue. The United States has been more focused on the Middle East, so the trilateral talks with Russia were postponed. But we will resume them,” Zelenskyy said.
In addition, the president noted that, despite sanctions, Russia continues to sell oil.
“We know how much oil Russia has sold despite the sanctions. However, we hope that the United States will soon reinstate them,” he said.
In closing, Zelenskyy commented on his relationship with Donald Trump, noting that he has a “good relationship” with him.
“I think we have a good relationship because I’m one of the few who tells him what I think. Not many people can tell the President of the United States that he isn’t always right. We need U.S. support not only in military terms. They also need us and our experience gained over these years of war,” Zelenskyy said.