Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday that he is willing to have direct talks with Russia but stressed that Kyiv has to first agree on a united position with the United States and Europe on how to close the three-year war. 

Zelensky clarified that Ukraine stands willing to negotiate but only on a united Western strategy. He asserted the need for clear responses from allies before negotiating with Moscow.

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“We are ready for any conversations with America and our allies,” Zelensky stated. “If they provide us with specific answers to specific requests from us and a common understanding of the dangerous Putin, then, with our unified understanding, we will be ready to talk with the Russians.”

Trump Still To Complete Peace Plan

Volodymyr Zelensky has also pointed out that Donald Trump hasn’t completed his strategy for stopping the war, even though he has had some recent phone calls with both the Ukrainian president and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Trump’s call for a quick resolution, his doubts about sending weapons to Ukraine, and his direct communications with Putin have made Kyiv nervous that Ukraine might be pressured into taking peace on Moscow’s terms. But Zelensky noted that Trump has not provided any concrete peace deal framework so far.

“I don’t see that the US has a plan ready,” he said.

Meets with US Vice President JD Vance

Zelensky is in Munich now, where he will meet with US Vice President JD Vance. Vance, in a Wall Street Journal interview, said that Washington has military influence over Russia and reiterated his backing of Ukraine’s sovereign sovereignty.

Zelensky welcomed Vance’s comments, saying, “His signals were strong, we are grateful for that.”

With uncertainty regarding the US position under Trump, Ukraine is being careful as it charts its next move toward possible negotiations.