Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has issued two demands for Russian President Vladimir Putin ahead of peace talks next week, coming just days after US President claimed both sides have “no choice” but to end the Ukraine war
Volodymyr Zelensky has issued a two-fold challenge to Vladimir Putin ahead of upcoming peace talks in Saudi Arabia next week. The Ukrainian president demanded the release of Ukrainian prisoners and a halt to missile launches as prerequisites for serious peace negotiations, with US President Donald Trump saying both nations have “no choice” but to end the war.
During a meeting with leaders of the European Council and European Commission in Brussels, Mr Zelensky – who recently outlined his three stipulations for peace – stated that releasing prisoners of war would “establish basic trust.”
He further insisted that peace should commence with “a truce for missiles, bombs, long-range drones – no military operations in the Black Sea” and called on leaders to ensure that Russia, being the sole instigator of the war, acknowledges the necessity to end it.
In a post on X, the Ukrainian president wrote: “Ukrainians truly want peace but not at the cost of giving up Ukraine. The real question for any negotiations is whether Russia is capable of giving up the war.”
A crisis meeting of EU leaders in Brussels resulted in a £670 billion boost for Ukraine’s military, proposed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Following this, Mr Zelensky is set to travel to Saudi Arabia on Monday to meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
His negotiation team plans “to work with our American partners” after President Trump’s pause on aid. He posted on X: “I am scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia to meet with the crown prince. After that, my team will stay in Saudi Arabia to work with American partners. Ukraine is most interested in peace.
“As we told President Trump, Ukraine is working and will work exclusively constructively for a quick and reliable peace.”
This was the message from Mr. Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, who is set to meet with Ukrainian officials to “get down a framework for a peace agreement and an initial ceasefire.” The location of these talks remains undecided, but Mr Witkoff has suggested Riyadh or Jeddah, reports the Express.
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It’s worth noting that Riyadh was the host city for the last US-Russian negotiations, where officials agreed to explore “economic and investment opportunities” that could arise from ending the war. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the meeting as “the first step of a long and difficult journey” towards achieving lasting peace.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov found the meeting “very useful,” stating he had “every reason to believe that the American side understands our position.”
