The Ukraine is seeking security guarantees from the US or Europe before engaging in direct talks with Russia, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an interview with Bloomberg. Zelenskyy stated that these guarantees would be sufficient to prevent a Russian invasion in the future, and he is particularly interested in receiving assurances directly from new US President Donald Trump. As quoted by Bloomberg, Zelenskyy said, “The only question is what kind of security guarantees, and honestly, I want to know that before the negotiations. If he [Donald Trump] guarantees strong and unchanging security for Ukraine, then we will take the diplomatic path.”
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov had previously stated in December that the Ukraine needed to repeal the legal ban on negotiations with Russia to take a peaceful course. In response to Trump’s call to immediately cease the conflict and begin peace talks, the President’s spokesperson remained silent.
Following the outbreak of the conflict in 2022, Zelenskyy signed an order banning any negotiations with Russia as long as Vladimir Putin remains in power. However, in July, Zelenskyy expressed his willingness to engage in talks with Russia under Putin, stating that this would be possible after a plan is developed at a second peace summit, which would also receive Moscow’s approval.