Zelenskyy: Ukraine Is Ready For Peace Talks, But Russia Chooses To Continue The War

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed Ukraine's desire for peace, but emphasized that Russia, the originator of the conflict, bears the responsibility for deciding to continue the bloodshed. At a joint press conference with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Zelenskyy affirmed Ukraine's willingness for negotiations and outlined his peace proposals.

Kyiv is coordinating these efforts with European partners and seeks US support to convey the suggestions to Russia. One proposal involves organizing a trilateral meeting with Ukraine, the US, and Russia to resolve issues that necessitate decisions at the highest level. Zelenskyy also stated Ukraine would be prepared to abstain from causing significant harm to Russia's energy sector if Moscow halted attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure.

Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly rejected the proposal, despite ongoing diplomatic efforts to seek a resolution. Zelenskyy reiterated Ukraine's readiness for negotiations, emphasizing that while they are not losing the war, they are losing lives and time. He also mentioned Ukraine's expectation of Starlink services being restored within 48 hours.

The president suggested that security guarantees, possibly based on NATO's Article 5, could be part of the discussions. Finnish President Alexander Stubb confirmed that peace negotiations are progressing at the technical level, despite public controversy. He emphasized that peace requires patience, acknowledging the ongoing loss of life and urging all parties to do everything possible to bring the conflict to an end.