Ukraine President Vladimir Zelensky has finally expressed his willingness to negotiate with Russian President Vladimir Putin to bring the Ukraine conflict to an end. However Zelensky also stressed that he will not be kind to “enemy” Putin.
Zelensky made the remarks during an interview with British journalist Piers Morgan, with excerpts published on Tuesday. Asked if he is prepared to meet with the Russian president, Zelensky indicated that he is.
Speaking of a potential meeting Zelensky said, “If that is the only setup in which we can bring peace to the citizens of Ukraine and not lose people, definitely we will go for this setup, for this meeting,” he said. “What is my attitude to him [Putin]? I will not be kind to him and I… consider him an enemy. And to be honest, I believe he considers me an enemy as well,” he said.
The latest remarks showcase a huge shift in Zelensky’s stance, as he had earlier refused to negotiate wwiththe Russian President and even signed a decree banning any negotiations with Moscow or Putin. Last month, Zelensky said the ban applies to all Ukrainian officials except himself, while the original 2022 decree only stated that negotiations are “impossible” without specifying any individuals or entities prohibited from engaging in them.
Putin calls Zelensky Illegitimate head
Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin had reiterated Moscow’s stance that Zelensky lacks the legitimacy to sign agreements, given that his presidential term expired in May 2024 and no constitutional mechanism exists to extend it. However, the Russian president said he is willing to send negotiators to talk to Zelensky if he is open to discussions.
“It’s possible to negotiate with anyone. However, due to his illegitimacy, [Zelensky] has no right to sign anything. If he wishes to participate in talks, I will deploy people who will conduct such negotiations,” Putin stated.
The Ukrainian decree banning negotiations with Russia remains an obstacle to meaningful talks between Kiev and Moscow, Putin said. He pledged to deploy a team of legal experts to assess the authority of any Ukrainian negotiating team and determine whether they have the proper legal standing to sign an agreement.
“If we start negotiations now, they will be illegitimate… Because when the current head of the regime – that’s the only way to call [Zelensky] today – signed this decree, he was a somewhat legitimate president. But now he can’t cancel it because he is illegitimate. That’s the trick, the catch, the trap,” Putin explained.
Hopes of a peace deal have been rekindled since Donald Trump became President of the USA. Trump has long considered the Russia Ukraine war a drain on American resources and has even offered a prospective peace proposal through social media. During his campaign Trump had promised to end the war.
While Zelenaky had been reluctant to go in for any peace proposals before as he was backed by the Biden administration and EU nations. The Biden regime had given Ukraine billions in military and civilian aid to draw out the conflict and not accept any deals with Russia. However now Zelensky’s stance seems to be shifting as he comes to terms with the Trump team, and its outlook that is starkly different from the previous Biden government.
