President Zelensky Says Ukraine Is Ready To Negotiate About War, But The US And Europe Must Attend

JAKARTA - President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine was ready to engage in negotiations to end the war with Russia which has been going on for nearly three years with Russia, but the United States and Europe must remain in negotiations.

President Zelensky has in recent weeks spoken about the need for negotiations to end the conflict "fair".

He has long called for the withdrawal of all Russian troops from Ukrainian territory as a condition of negotiations.

"If people believe we should turn to diplomatic channels, and I believe we are ready to switch to diplomatic channels, there must be the US, Europe, Ukraine and Russia," he told British journalist Piers Morgan in an interview broadcast on Morgan's YouTube channel.

He further said that if sitting face-to-face with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the negotiating table "is the only way in which we can bring peace to Ukrainians, of course we will use this method, for meetings with these four participants."

Separately, the Kremlin said this week it was too early to consider four-way negotiations.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has again appointed President Zelensky as a "unauthorized" leader because he remains in power after his term ends.

Meanwhile, President Putin has repeatedly rejected President Zelensky as a participant in any talks, saying Kyiv leaders failed to participate in the general election when his term ended in May 2024.

Ukraine says no general elections are legally possible as long as martial law is still in effect.

In the interview, President Zelensky rejected the Kremlin's argument, saying he was elected in 2019 with 73 percent of the vote.

"I am always open to general elections. However, during the war, general elections require constitutional changes and serious legal adjustments," he said.

"The main problem is not only legal matters, but also human problems. How will soldiers in the ditch vote? What about millions of Ukrainians in occupied territories? Does their voices no longer mean? And what about the eight million Ukrainians forced to flee overseas because of the war?" he explained.

In Washington, President Donald Trump has hinted that Uncle Sam and Moscow have been in contact with Ukraine. However, a top Russian diplomat said direct contact had not yet taken place.

Last week, Trump's Special Envoys for Ukraine and Russia Keith Kellogg raised election issues, telling Reuters Washington wanted Ukraine to hold elections by the end of the year, especially if Kyiv could agree to a ceasefire with Russia.

In an interview with President Zelensky called for pressure on Russia not to be relaxed, saying suspension of sanctions would increase a second invasion.

President Zelensky also provided estimates of dead and injured victims, something both sides have rarely done since the war broke out.

He estimates that the death toll on the Ukrainian side reached 45,100, with a total of 390,000 injured. Meanwhile, on the Russian side, he estimates Moscow lost 350,000 troops and 650,000 to 700,000 others were injured, with "many" Russian troops missing in fighting.

President Zelensky also reiterated his opinion that Ukraine needs security guarantees to protect itself from Russia's future actions. "If Ukraine's efforts to become a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) take a long time, what form of support Ukraine will receive," he asked.

"What will protect us from this crime so far?" asked President Zelensky.

"What kind of support? Which missile? Will we be given nuclear weapons? If so, let them give us nuclear weapons. Will they give us enough missiles to stop Russia? I'm not sure about that," he said.