Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy believes that the next six months are critical for achieving peace, otherwise the country may face a long war.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy said this in an interview with British broadcaster Sky News.
The head of state said he was ready for trilateral talks with kremlin leader vladimir putin with the participation of the United States.
According to Zelenskyy, the coming months are key to a diplomatic settlement. He emphasized that the United States now has the opportunity to organize a negotiation process and increase international pressure on moscow.
"It depends on these months - whether we will have the opportunity to end the war by the fall. Before the elections - important, influential elections in the United States. If we can achieve peace, then we have this window of opportunity. Now this window is open," Zelenskyy said.
However, the Ukrainian leader emphasized that it depends on whether putin is "ready for such a trilateral meeting in these six months."
If it is not possible to agree on a meeting by the fall, Zelenskyy believes that the war may become protracted.
The head of state noted that the closer to the US elections, the more the team of the American president is focused on domestic issues. And, accordingly, less on foreign policy. In this case, Europe can take on the role of organizer of the negotiation process.
If these efforts fail, the war will last longer.
The President also emphasized that he rejects the proposal to hold talks in moscow and is ready to consider other venues, except for the territory of russia or Belarus.
He emphasized that he is ready to meet on any neutral territory, "or even not neutral, but not on Russian or Belarusian territory, because they are allies."
Zelenskyy also said that the United States has the power to end the war, but should put more pressure on the kremlin.
In particular, the leader of Ukraine called on the administration in Washington to increase sanctions pressure on the families of russia's leadership and provide Ukraine with more modern weapons, stressing that only tougher measures will force moscow to truly sit down at the negotiating table.
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