Kyiv is ready for negotiations with Russia without the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine – CNN reported

Ukraine has started talking about negotiations amid a difficult situation on the front lines and uncertainty about future Western support. President Volodymyr Zelensky initially opposed dialogue with Russia until its troops withdrew from Ukraine but later stated the need to invite Russia to a second peace summit.

CNN reports on this development.

“Currently, Kyiv faces a double blow: a challenging situation on the front lines and political uncertainty regarding future support from Ukraine’s allies,” the site notes.

The report highlights that Russia’s “creeping advance” forces Ukraine to conduct defensive operations instead of preparing for a counteroffensive. Meanwhile, questions are arising in the West about the willingness of the US and Germany to continue funding the conflict.

Former US Ambassador to Ukraine John Herbst believes Zelensky’s change in tone is a reaction to Donald Trump’s choice of JD Vance, a “staunch critic of support for Ukraine,” as his running mate.

“Zelensky may be trying to reach out to a potential future Trump administration by emphasizing that he is ready for negotiations—as long as the deal on the table is fair,” CNN quotes Herbst as saying.

Herbst considers that it would be fair to accept Ukraine into NATO after the war ends. He also believes that Kyiv could “rightfully claim victory in this war,” even if Ukraine does not manage to reclaim all its pre-war territory.

It is worth noting that the previous day, Boris Johnson suggested ending the war in Ukraine advantageously.