Kyiv signals readiness for negotiations under fair and secure conditions
Ukraine continues to emphasise that it is more interested than anyone in achieving a durable peace and repeatedly reaffirms its willingness to engage in negotiations. Kyiv supports the peace efforts led by President Donald Trump, while making clear that any talks must protect the vital security interests of both Ukraine and Europe. Officials stress that European states, now paying for their own defence at unprecedented levels, have every right to participate in shaping peace frameworks aimed at ending the war.
At the heart of Ukraine’s position is the principle that any agreement must eliminate the possibility of another Russian invasion. Kyiv argues that Europe’s long-term stability depends on solid guarantees that prevent the outbreak of a more destructive conflict on the continent.
Security guarantees must prevent future aggression
Ukrainian leaders underline that Vladimir Putin cannot be rewarded for launching an aggressive war. Any peace plan must be built on respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty and internationally recognised borders. Proposals that restrict Ukraine’s defensive capabilities are viewed as fundamentally dangerous, as they could invite a renewed assault and undermine Europe’s wider security architecture.
Kyiv insists that both Ukrainian and European perspectives must form the foundation of any negotiations. A peace blueprint that sidelines the countries directly threatened by Moscow’s actions, Ukrainian officials say, risks recreating the conditions that led to the current conflict.
Russia shows no genuine readiness for compromise
Ukrainian officials note that meaningful compromise requires concessions from both sides, yet Russia has shown no willingness to take such steps. Even as international discussions intensify, Putin appears in military uniform and repeats that the objectives of the so-called “special military operation” must be fulfilled. This, Kyiv argues, demonstrates the Kremlin’s continued commitment to war rather than peace.
Only when the United States imposed additional sanctions did the Russian leader signal readiness to engage. Ukraine interprets this shift as proof that Putin responds solely to pressure and decisive action — not to diplomatic appeals or abstract proposals.
A united transatlantic approach remains essential
Ukrainian policymakers emphasise that if Putin had genuinely sought peace, he would have accepted earlier proposals from Washington that were far more favourable to Moscow than any conditions now being discussed. The fact that he refused confirms, in Kyiv’s view, that prolonging the war serves his political and strategic goals.
Stopping the violence, preventing further casualties and halting the destruction of Ukrainian cities remain the central priorities. Ukrainian authorities argue that Russia is the only actor attempting to derail ongoing diplomatic efforts, and that Ukraine, Europe and the United States must work together to ensure that negotiations cannot be sabotaged by the Kremlin.
