Zelenskyy outlines path to potential Ukraine-Russia negotiations

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has indicated that a series of high-level meetings with the United States and European partners scheduled for January 2026 could pave the way for negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, potentially leading to some form of engagement with Russian representatives.

Speaking to journalists online on 29 December, while en route back to Europe following his bilateral talks with U.S. President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago, Zelenskyy emphasized a step-by-step approach.

“After these meetings [with the U.S. and Europe], I think that if everything goes step by step, then after that there will be a meeting in one way or another format with the Russians,” he said.

He reaffirmed Ukraine’s readiness for “the relevant formats that we have already discussed.

“The planned January gatherings include:

A meeting at the level of advisors, which Zelenskyy hopes to host in Ukraine itself (Defence Minister Rustem Umerov has already coordinated with American and European counterparts).
A broader leaders’ summit in Europe involving Ukraine and multiple partners.
A dedicated session of the “Coalition of the Willing,” focused on finalizing concrete contributions to Ukraine’s security guarantees – a initiative Zelenskyy began advancing immediately after his December 28 meeting with Trump, including direct consultations with French President Emmanuel Macron and other allies.

These discussions aim to finalize documents at the leadership level, setting the stage for further progress in the U.S.-brokered peace process.

While Zelenskyy’s comments leave open the possibility of future Ukraine-Russia talks, a direct high-level meeting between Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin remains highly unlikely. Ukrainian law prohibits direct talks with Putin personally. Conversely, Putin has repeatedly dismissed Zelenskyy as “illegitimate,” citing the postponement of Ukrainian elections under martial law (a constitutional requirement during wartime).

This mutual rejection has made personal summits improbable, with any potential direct negotiations more likely to occur at lower levels, such as through advisors, envoys, or working groups.

This stance comes amid intensified U.S.-led diplomatic efforts under President Trump, who held separate phone calls with Putin before and after his 28 December meeting with Zelenskyy, and facilitated a subsequent teleconference with European leaders. Progress has been reported on security guarantees and economic aspects, though territorial issues, particularly in Donbas, remain unresolved.

Trump and Zelenskyy report progress on Ukraine peace deal After Mar-a-Lago meeting

In the meantime, Russia has shown no signs of backing down from its maximalist initial positions, which effectively amount to transforming Ukraine into a vassal state.

Caption: A handout picture made available by the Presidential Press Service shows Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaking during a joint press conference with US President Donald Trump (not pictured) in Palm Beach, Florida, USA, 28 December 2025. EPA/PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE