Zelenskyy rejects neutrality, army limits in peace talks
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv will reject Russian demands for neutrality and limits on its armed forces, while reserving territorial questions for talks between national leaders.
Ukraine rejects restrictions on its security
Ukraine will not accept security guarantees dictated by Russia or restrictions on its armed forces, Zelenskyy said in an interview with Ukrainian broadcaster 1+1. He said a document containing US proposals, delivered to Moscow by US special envoy Steve Witkoff, offered several possible approaches to ending the war, but some were unacceptable to Kyiv.
“Our security guarantees cannot be dictated by Russia. Restrictions on our armed forces and Ukraine’s neutrality are not up for discussion,” Zelenskyy said.
Territorial issues require leaders’ involvement
Zelenskyy said Washington had repeatedly raised the possibility of territorial swaps as part of peace negotiations. However, he stressed that Ukraine would not surrender territory in exchange for other concessions.
“Everyone must understand that we are not giving anything up in exchange for something else. We are ready for talks,” he said. Territorial questions should be discussed by national leaders, while other issues could be handled by technical negotiating teams, he added.
Kyiv proposes an energy ceasefire
Zelenskyy said a halt to attacks on energy infrastructure could serve as the first indication that Russia was prepared to take meaningful steps towards ending the war. He also proposed measures to safeguard Black Sea navigation and secure a comprehensive exchange of prisoners of war.
“An energy ceasefire as the first step. I believe that would be a signal,” he said.
If no agreement on an energy ceasefire is reached, Kyiv believes a meeting between the Ukrainian, US and Russian presidents could help advance negotiations. Zelenskyy said technical discussions would not be sufficient without political decisions at the highest level.
Asked which side was less willing to negotiate, Zelenskyy replied: “The Russians. They don’t want to.”
US diplomatic efforts continue
On October 20, Witkoff met Zelenskyy and European leaders in Oslo. The following day, the US envoy held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg.
Washington subsequently proposed resuming trilateral negotiations in early November, an initiative that Kyiv and Moscow have, in principle, supported. However, major differences remain over territory, Ukraine’s defence capabilities and the terms of a potential settlement.
Russia continues to demand Ukrainian territory, including areas its forces do not control, and seeks restrictions on Ukraine’s military capabilities. Kyiv rejects recognition of occupied Ukrainian territory as Russian but has indicated that it could accept a freeze in fighting along the current front line as a first step towards ending the war.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
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