Moscow has repeatedly complained that Kyiv’s President Zelensky has banned negotiations to end Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. Now he is open to talks.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is seeking talks with Russia to implement his “victory plan.” The plan could enable future, more effective diplomatic meetings with Russia, Zelensky said, according to Ukrainian media, before his departure for the USA, where he plans to present his repeatedly announced plan first to President Joe Biden and then to the world public. It contains three points that should be discussed with Russia in any format.
“The victory plan envisages quick and concrete steps by our strategic partners – between now and the end of December,” said Zelensky, according to the Interfax-Ukraine news agency. Implementation depends on the partners. The plan is intended to build a bridge to a second peace summit, in which Russia should also participate, he said. At the same time, he made it clear once again that, in his view, Moscow is not interested in peace talks and wants to continue the war. Russia was not invited to the first summit in June in Switzerland.
The specific content of the “victory plan” is not yet known. Moscow has repeatedly criticized the fact that Zelenskyj has banned talks with Russia by decree and that the ban must now be lifted. So far there have only been isolated contacts via intermediaries, for example in the prisoner exchanges that are repeatedly organized.
Zelensky also said that Biden could still make important decisions before he leaves office and thus strengthen Ukraine. At his meeting with Biden, Zelensky will once again push for the US to release its long-range weapons for strikes deep into Russia’s hinterland. “We need long-range weapons,” said Zelensky. The country has been defending itself against the Russian war of aggression for more than two and a half years.
