Ukraine announces its ready for peace talks with Russia
Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Yuliya Sviridenko stated that his country is ready for peace talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but for this, Ukraine must be strengthened militarily and economically.
The Ukrainian government announced that it is ready to hold peace talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but Kiev should strengthen its position for these talks to take place.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Yuliya Sviridenko said in an interview with Poland's RMF FM radio, "This (talks with Putin) is possible, but it depends on when it will happen. Negotiations may take place at a time when Ukraine is becoming strong enough. Because a weak Ukraine cannot achieve a satisfactory peace agreement," he said.
Sviridenko stated that the defense industry and economy should be strengthened for a strong Ukraine.
Sviridenko also stated that they hope that the administration of the new president of the United States, Donald Trump, will actively participate in the peace process and will be successful in this process.
The official said, "Our priority is not just to reach peace. This also includes talking on security guarantees that will help Ukraine return to normal," he added.
Sviridenko expressed his hope that the war will end in 2025.
Previously, Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council issued an instruction prohibiting direct negotiations with Msokvoa.
Zelenskiy enacted this document in October 2022. The Kremlin, on the other hand, demanded the cancellation of this decision. In July 2024, Zelenskiy stated that he was ready to meet with Putin, but that Russia should accept the peace plan approved by Kiev with its partners.
In June 2024, Putin announced his own conditions for starting peace talks. These conditions included the withdrawal of the Ukrainian army from the Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporozhye and Kherson oblasts, the official abandonment of Kiev from joining NATO, the confirmation of Ukraine's nuclear-free status, the completion of the country's “demilitarization” and “denization” processes, and the lifting of all sanctions imposed by the West on Russia.
Putin also stated that he saw only the Verhovna Rada (Parliament of Ukraine) as legitimate government in Ukraine after the expiration of Zelenskiy's presidential term in May 2024. Zelenskiy described these conditions as a "new ultimatum".
After Trump won the presidential election, Putin twice expressed his readiness to negotiate with the new president of the United States on Ukraine.
But Putin emphasized that the dialogue should be "on the basis of equality and mutual respect". Trump, on the other hand, threatened to increase the sanctions against Russia until a full export embargo if Putin did not end his war against Ukraine. Trump said, “We can do this in a good or bad way. It's always better in a good way. Make the deal. No more life should be lost," he said.