Both sides have refused to hold direct peace talks since talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegations broke down in the first weeks after Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Photo: AP
Dozens of world leaders, however, backed a just solution to the war in Ukraine after a summit convened by Mr Zelenskyy last month in Switzerland, although Russia was not invited.
Russia has reacted to the meeting, saying any discussion of ending the conflict without Russia is “absurd”.
At a press conference in Kiev after a visit to the US to attend the NATO Summit, Mr. Zelenskyy opened up the possibility of direct negotiations with officials from Russia.
“I believe that Russian representatives should be present at the second summit,” Zelenskyy said, referring to preparations for the next meeting of Ukraine’s allies.
He announced that separate meetings on key issues, including energy, would be held in Qatar and on food security in Türkiye before the second peace conference.
Mr Zelenskyy also stressed that Ukraine was not under pressure to negotiate with Russia. He said the level of foreign support allowed Ukraine to withstand Russian attacks, though not enough to “win”.
In recent months, Mr. Zelenskyy has called on Ukraine’s allies to provide more air defense systems. He said 25 Patriot air defense systems or their equivalents would be enough to protect all of Ukraine, but declined to say how many had been deployed.
The Ukrainian president also said he was not concerned about the possibility of Donald Trump becoming US president again. Mr Trump's victory in the November US election could raise questions about Washington's continued support for Ukraine.
“I think if Donald Trump becomes president, we will work together. I am not worried about this,” Mr. Zelenskyy said at a press conference on Monday.
Republican candidate Donald Trump has suggested he would quickly end the conflict if he wins, which Kiev fears would mean it would be forced to negotiate with Moscow from a weaker position.
Mr Trump had previously said during a debate with President Joe Biden that if elected he would “solve” the Ukraine conflict before he takes office in January 2025.
Mr Zelenskyy declined to say whether he was worried about President Biden, who is facing calls to drop out of the White House race. But he acknowledged that the “turbulence” of the US election cycle was having a “big impact” on Ukraine.
Cao Phong (according to Reuters, CNA)
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