Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared that Kyiv is fully prepared for direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but warned that if Moscow refuses, Washington must respond firmly. He stressed that Ukraine has already signaled its readiness and now expects Russia to do the same; saying that without real engagement from the Kremlin, the United States should take decisive steps to show diplomacy cannot be ignored.
His comments came as fresh diplomatic efforts gained momentum, with Washington attempting to broker a trilateral summit. While the U.S. continues to push for dialogue, Moscow has given little indication it will participate. Zelenskyy made clear that Ukraine cannot be asked to make concessions until Russia defines what it is willing to offer in return.
He also voiced unease about Hungary being floated as a venue for negotiations, citing concerns over its close ties to Moscow. At the same time, he underscored the need for clear security guarantees from Western partners, comparing them to a collective defense pledge, before any meaningful agreements can be discussed.
The urgency of his remarks reflects growing frustration in Kyiv. Recent high-level meetings between global leaders ended without breakthroughs, and Zelenskyy warned that Russia’s hesitation is eroding the credibility of the process. For now, Ukraine’s position remains firm: it is open to talks, but if Putin refuses, Kyiv expects its allies to prove that such resistance will carry real consequences.
