Zelenskyy: "I am willing to meet Putin at any time"

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said at a press conference following talks with US President Donald Trump that he is willing to meet Russian leader Vladimir Putin and that Trump could help arrange a trilateral meeting.

Source: Zelenskyy at the press conference

Quote: "The most important move the president [US President Donald Trump – ed.] can do, including the things that I raised before today, is that he can organise a trilateral meeting where all the sensitive things leaders can raise and try to end the war."

Details: Asked whether this meant he was prepared to meet Putin, Zelenskyy replied: "I'm ready. I said this. I'm ready any time when all the sides are ready. I think we all need to move as quickly as possible [towards ending the war – ed.]."

Zelenskyy also criticised those who speak about ending the war but take no steps towards doing so. "If you say this is ending the war through dialogue, that means you need to meet and have a dialogue," he said, stressing that this must happen even if you hate your opponent.

Background:

• This is not the first time Zelenskyy has proposed meeting Putin. In March 2026, the president said Ukraine was serious about peace talks with Russia and that negotiations should take place between the countries' leaders.
• In June, Zelenskyy also said that he had proposed meeting Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin at the G7 summit in France for talks on ending the war, but Russia "was not willing to talk".

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