Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told US news website Axios that Russia had informed two envoys of US President Donald Trump of its readiness to begin negotiations over the war in Ukraine, pointing to the possibility of “de-escalation” during the winter.
In the interview, Zelenskyy said Russian President Vladimir Putin “needs Trump” and does not want to “anger him,” particularly ahead of the midterm elections scheduled for early November.
According to Zelenskyy, the Kremlin had therefore shown “readiness for dialogue,” citing what US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner told him after they visited Moscow and Kyiv respectively over the weekend to meet with the two presidents.
Axios reported that among the options proposed by Washington for launching a peace process was the possibility of “de-escalation” before or during the winter.
“There are ideas related to energy, grain and electricity, as well as oil and gas,” Zelenskyy told the website.
Infrastructure linked to these sectors has been a key target of the daily attacks exchanged by the two sides.
Meanwhile, Witkoff said Monday that his tour had helped achieve “substantial progress” toward arranging trilateral talks aimed at ending the conflict that began with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Trump was elected in 2024 after pledging during his campaign to quickly end the war in Ukraine, an effort he has so far failed to achieve.
Source: AFP
