Ukraine eyes peace talks, holds firm on Crimea
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that his country is ready to start negotiations with the Russian Federation in "any format," immediately after a ceasefire.
The statement was made Tuesday, April 22, during a press conference aired by Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne, DW writes.
Zelensky stated that it is essential to avoid a "stalemate" in the peace process. He also reiterated that Ukraine will never legally recognize the occupation of the Crimean peninsula, a subject he considers closed: "It is the territory of the Ukrainian people and we have nothing to discuss on this topic – it is outside the Constitution," the Ukrainian leader said.
Regarding Ukraine's accession to NATO, the president explained that only member states of the alliance can decide this, and rejected the idea that Russia could impose a veto on the matter.
Zelensky: US must not withdraw from the peace process
The Kyiv leader expressed concern about the possible withdrawal of the United States from the negotiation process. "This is not just about military aid, but also about intelligence, about life and security. It would be a serious loss for us." Zelensky also expressed hope that US President Donald Trump will continue to support Ukraine and exert pressure on Russia.
Washington: This is not our war
US Senator Marco Rubio recently stated that the US will decide within days if a truce is realistic in the near future. If not, "we will move forward, we have other priorities," the US official said, quoted by the AFP news agency. He added that, although the US has supported Ukraine for the past three years, "this is not our war."
A new round of talks is scheduled for Wednesday, April 23, in London. Ukrainian officials are set to meet with representatives of the EU and the US to discuss the prospects of a peace process. According to the Financial Times, Keith Kellogg, President Trump's special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, is also expected at the meeting.
On April 17, in Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron met with US Senator Marco Rubio and Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff. The topic of the discussions was the resolution of the conflict in Ukraine.
Since taking office, Donald Trump has intensified efforts to secure a peace deal in the war in Ukraine, placing negotiations at the core of his foreign policy efforts. Promising during his campaign that he would end the conflict "in one day," Trump began diplomatic talks aimed at bringing Russia and Ukraine to the negotiating table, but the path to peace remains full of obstacles.
Meanwhile, relations between Kyiv and the Trump administration became strained, particularly after Zelensky's visit to Washington on February 28, followed by a brief, several-day suspension of US military support and intelligence sharing. Since then, the Ukrainian president has adopted a more cautious approach, repeatedly expressing gratitude for the support provided by the US.
In early March, Ukraine accepted a US proposal for a 30-day truce, but Russia rejected it. After this, US aid was resumed. Subsequently, both Ukraine and Russia agreed to suspend attacks on energy infrastructure and at sea, but Moscow conditioned a maritime agreement on the relaxation of international sanctions.
Russia and the US continue diplomatic contacts, and recently, Kirill Dmitriev, Vladimir Putin's special envoy, visited Washington and was temporarily removed from the sanctions list.
Despite diplomatic efforts, Russia and Ukraine continue to attack each other.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
