Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signaled a potential turning point in the ongoing war with Russia on Tuesday, saying Ukraine is prepared to enter negotiations with Moscow — but only once a ceasefire is firmly in place.
Speaking at a press briefing in Kyiv, Zelensky emphasized that his government is open to peace talks “in any format,” provided the fighting stops first. “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,” the president said from his office in the capital.
Zelensky’s comments come ahead of a key diplomatic meeting in London on Wednesday, where a Ukrainian delegation will meet with officials from the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany.
The delegation will carry a mandate to explore possibilities for either a full or partial ceasefire — a potential first step toward de-escalating the war, which has raged for over two years.
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However, Zelensky also acknowledged the complexity of the road ahead. “It will not be possible to agree on everything quickly,” he cautioned, pointing to sensitive topics like territorial sovereignty, long-term security guarantees, and Ukraine’s NATO aspirations — all of which have been major sticking points in previous efforts to broker peace.
The upcoming talks in London are part of a renewed U.S.-led diplomatic push to end the war, with international efforts intensifying behind the scenes. The involvement of top Western powers in this latest round of discussions underscores both the urgency and difficulty of securing a lasting resolution.
In a notable aside, Zelensky also expressed his willingness to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump later this week, as both leaders are expected to attend the funeral of Pope Francis. A face-to-face conversation between the two could offer another opportunity to align on diplomatic strategy and support for Ukraine.
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