In recent days, a huge change has been noticed in Ukraine regarding the possibility of negotiations with the aggressor Russia . It takes place against the background of the turbulent political events in the USA.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who issued a decree banning peace talks with Vladimir Putin, has already openly spoken about the possibility of negotiating with the Kremlin.
„I believe that if we are united and follow, for example, the format of the peace summit (in Switzerland), we can end the hot stage of the war. We can try to do it by the end of this year”, Zelensky told the BBC.
The Russian Foreign Ministry refused to participate in the second summit. The world must put pressure on Russia and force it to consider a diplomatic settlement, Ukraine's president said. “This does not mean that all territories have been recaptured by force. I think the power of diplomacy can help”, Zelensky said, adding that weakening Russia on the battlefield would give Ukraine a more advantageous position in negotiations.
„By putting pressure on Russia, I think it is possible to agree to a diplomatic settlement,” Zelensky said. Kyiv and Moscow have not held direct talks since the failed talks in early 2022.
At the same time, Zelensky did not rule out the possibility of negotiations directly with Vladimir Putin, UNIAN agency writes.
„At the second peace summit - if the plan is fully prepared and if Russia is ready to talk about this plan and agree on the end of the war in accordance with the UN Charter and the solution of all the crises that they they brought... then we will be ready to talk to representatives of Russia. And whether it will be Putin or not Putin - what does it matter...”, said Zelensky.
The change in Kiev's position comes amid uncertainty about what will happen in the US presidential election in November. First, Donald Trump narrowly escaped death in an attack in Pennsylvania, and hours ago, Joe Biden announced that he was withdrawing from the race. If Trump wins the election, he will almost certainly impose a condition on Kiev: either agree to a ceasefire (which means giving up 1/5 of its lands) or no more weapons and military aid. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has no idea how to end the war in Ukraine, his former national security adviser John Bolton said in an interview with CNN. In particular, Bolton referred to a statement Trump made during a recent conversation with President Volodymyr Zelensky that he would bring peace and end the Russian-Ukrainian war. "This is madness. He has no idea how he's going to negotiate and how he's going to end this war," Bolton said.