Zelenskiy Urges U.S. to Respond Firmly If Putin Refuses Peace Talks
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has urged the United States to deliver a “strong reaction” if Russian President Vladimir Putin refuses to engage in direct peace talks amid the ongoing war.
Speaking at a media briefing in Kyiv, Zelenskiy confirmed Ukraine’s readiness for a one-on-one meeting with Putin, a proposal he said was still awaiting a response from Moscow.
“I responded immediately to the proposal for a bilateral meeting: we are ready,” Zelenskiy said. “But what if the Russians are not ready? If the Russians are not ready, we would like to see a strong reaction from the United States.”
The comments come as President Donald Trump, now leading a renewed diplomatic push, attempts to broker a deal between the two nations. However, Trump has admitted that Putin may not be willing to come to the table — a reality that threatens to stall progress toward ending the nearly four-year-long war.
Despite recent high-level diplomacy involving Washington, Kyiv, and Moscow, a clear path to peace remains elusive. U.S. officials are reportedly working with allies to define potential security guarantees for Ukraine, even as Russian forces continue to advance slowly in the country’s eastern regions. Russia currently occupies just under 20% of Ukrainian territory.
Zelenskiy said the question of territorial concessions, often cited as a key hurdle, remains unanswered. Trump has previously suggested that both sides may have to give up land to reach a deal.
“To discuss what Ukraine is willing to do, let’s first hear what Russia is willing to do,” Zelenskiy said. “We do not know that.”
When asked about reports that Budapest could serve as a location for future Ukrainian-Russian peace talks, Zelenskiy called the idea “challenging.” Hungary, seen as Russia’s closest ally within the European Union, has offered to host negotiations twice, according to Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto.
