“By winter we have to find a diplomatic way.” Ukraine wants to take advantage of the slowdown in the Russian advance to relaunch peace negotiations
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview broadcast on Sunday that he wants to continue diplomatic efforts to end the war with Russia before winter comes, so that Ukraine can capitalize on the more favorable strategic position it believes it has gained on the front, according to Reuters.
US-brokered negotiations for a possible peace deal have stalled in recent months as Washington has turned its attention to the conflict with Iran. Zelensky and other Ukrainian officials say the advance of Russian forces has slowed, while Ukraine has stepped up its medium- and long-range attacks on Russian territory, mainly targeting the oil industry.
“From December 2025, Russia began to lose the initiative on the battlefield,” Zelenskiy told CBS' “Face the Nation.”
“We have this period until winter. Before winter we need to find a diplomatic way to sit down at the negotiating table,” the Ukrainian leader said. He added that this depends on the pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin, both from outside and inside Russia.
“I think the pressure on him is increasing, including through sanctions. They should not be lifted, but tightened,” Zelenskiy said.
The Ukrainian president said there is also the possibility of organized negotiations with European support or direct bilateral talks with Russia, but reiterated the need for tougher sanctions against Moscow.
