Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, hinted on Saturday that he may be open to negotiations with Russia for the first time since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2020, according to CNN.
This shift in attitude seems to be influenced by the challenging conditions on the front lines, uncertainty about the level of support from allied nations, and the growing likelihood of former President Donald Trump’s re-election.
Zelenskyy stated in a recent press conference, “I believe that Russian representatives should be at the second summit.” The Ukrainian side proposed this summit, which is aimed at discussing potential resolutions to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
When Russia was not invited to the first Summit on Peace in Ukraine in Switzerland last month, Zelenskyy emphasized that the summit could only be held after Russia withdrew from Ukraine.
John Herbst, a former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, analyzed that Zelenskyy’s change in tone likely reflects a response to the political landscape in the U.S. He explained that Zelenskyy might be attempting to connect with the potential future Trump administration by emphasizing his willingness to negotiate, provided that any deal offered is just.
Trump and Zelenskyy had a phone call last week. Trump described it as “a very good phone call,” stating, “I, as your next President of the United States, will bring peace to the world and end the war that has cost so many lives and devastated countless innocent families. Both sides will be able to come together and negotiate a deal that ends the violence and paves a path forward to prosperity.” Zelenskyy said they discussed measures to create a fair and genuinely lasting peace.
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