Zelenskyy Is Ready To Talk Peacefully With Russia, But Will Not Leave The Region

JAKARTA - Ukraine is ready for peace negotiations but will not withdraw its troops from additional territory first as Moscow requested.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he was pleased that negotiations were being held anywhere, except in Russia itself or in the territory of his close ally, Belarus.

The plan for a summit in Budapest this month between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin was postponed after Moscow remained to its demands, including Ukraine, which had to hand over more territory as a condition of the ceasefire.

Trump supports Ukraine's call for an immediate ceasefire by sticking to current rules.

"It is very clear that we are approaching diplomacy only from our current position. We will not back down and leave a single part of our country," Zelenskyy said.

"And the important result is that the American side finally conveys this public signal: President Trump conveys such a message," he continued.

Zelenskyy said he enjoyed attending negotiations, including in Hungary, despite doubts about some of Prime Minister Viktor Orban's positions, which he said "blocked everything for Ukraine".

"If there will be results, then God bless - let the negotiations take place anywhere," he said.

"It's almost no problem, it's just not in Russia, of course, and obviously not in Belarus," he continued.

Zelenskyy also urged US lawmakers to impose stricter restrictions on Russia after Trump imposed sanctions on Moscow's two largest oil companies.

Ukraine will need stable financing from its European allies over the next two or three years, Zelenskyy said.