Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated that Kyiv will never accept Russia's claim over its occupied lands. He made it clear that any bilateral or trilateral talks with global leaders would only happen when there was a clear conceptualisation of the international security guarantees within "seven to ten days."
"Ukraine will not legally accept Russia's occupation of its lands," Zelenskyy said, asserting that negotiations with Moscow could only move ahead once strong security assurances were available.
"We want to comprehend the security guarantees architecture in seven to 10 days. And on the basis of this understanding, we will want to have a trilateral meeting. That was my thinking," the Ukrainian President said.
He further added, "If Russia is not prepared for a bilateral leaders meeting, then Ukraine and Europe want to have a firm US response."
Zelenskyy also rejected the possibility of having China included in security arrangements, observing that Beijing "did not help after the Russian invasion." Moreover, he labelled Budapest as an unlikely place for future peace negotiations, referring to the possibility as "challenging."
"President Trump proposed a bit different logic: a trilateral summit via a bilateral one," Zelenskyy stated. "Then we all said that, anyway, we are still working on the security guarantees, setting this rough framework, like Article 5. And political support for this, as we have today, is what we have," he continued.
His comments follow President Donald Trump holding high-profile diplomacy, including receiving Vladimir Putin in Alaska and later talks with Zelenskyy and European leaders in Washington. Trump said European countries are "willing to put people on the ground" but ruled out sending US troops, though leaving open the option of air power.
The Kremlin has not confirmed Trump's claim that Putin is willing to meet with Zelenskyy. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov cautioned that the summit would need to be planned carefully.
In the meantime, Russia pressed on with its onslaught in Ukraine, capturing villages in the Donetsk region and mounting one of its biggest air raids since July. The Ukrainian authorities claimed over 570 drones and 40 missiles were launched overnight. Although air defences repelled most of them, civilian injuries and extensive damage were reported.
Russia keeps showing that it has no interest in peace," Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko declared. Zelenskyy further stated that the attacks confirm the "need to put pressure on Moscow," calling for enhanced sanctions and more international support to push back against Russia's aggression.
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