“We cannot reclaim all of our territory”: Zelensky stated he is ready for direct negotiations with Putin

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that he is ready for direct negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Zelensky made this statement in an interview with British journalist Piers Morgan.

“I am ready if this is the only configuration to achieve peace in Ukraine,” the Ukrainian president said.

“If people believe that we should move to a diplomatic path, and I believe we are ready, then we will talk with Putin,” he added.

Zelensky also admitted in the interview with Morgan that reclaiming occupied territories may not be possible.

“Today, we cannot take back all our territory. We think realistically—we cannot lose millions of people for a result that may not even happen,” Zelensky stated.

It is worth recalling that in the fall of 2022, Zelensky issued a decree prohibiting any Ukrainian representatives, including himself, from negotiating with Putin. Until now, Zelensky had not expressed willingness to revoke this decree.

Meanwhile, the Kremlin has stated that Ukraine must cancel Zelensky’s decree banning negotiations with Putin. According to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, without this, it is “premature” to even discuss the potential participants in negotiations.

Additionally, Moscow is demanding that Kyiv hold presidential elections, as it considers Zelensky “illegitimate.”