Ukrainian President Suddenly Changes His Attitude About Negotiations With Putin, Signals Election

Ukraine on February 4 presented its stance on direct negotiations with Russia to end the conflict that is almost three years old, as well as holding elections in this Eastern European country.

Tổng thống Ukraine sẵn lòng đối mặt người đồng cấp Nga, phát tín hiệu về thảo luận việc bầu cử, mở toang cửa đón Mỹ vào khai khoáng

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is ready to sit down for direct talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. (Source: UNN)

AFP news agency reported that in an interview with journalist Pier Morgans, published on February 4, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he would agree to negotiate directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin to end nearly 3 years of conflict.

Specifically, when asked how he felt about sitting across from Mr. Putin at the negotiating table, President Zelensky stated: "If that is the only way to bring peace to the Ukrainian people and not lose more people, we will definitely accept this option," adding that there will be "4 parties involved."

The comments signal a shift in Zelensky’s stance. He has previously repeatedly refused to negotiate directly with his Russian counterpart, even signing a decree explicitly banning any talks with Moscow and especially with President Vladimir Putin.

Mr Zelensky said the ban on negotiations with Russia in 2022 was aimed at preventing Moscow from trying to exert pressure on Ukraine through "various corridors" that Kiev could not control.

However, on Russia's side, last week, President Putin said that the country would hold negotiations with Ukraine, but ruled out the possibility of direct talks with President Zelensky, because Moscow believes that Mr. Zelenksy's leadership term expired in May 2024.

Regarding the constitutionality of Mr. Zelensky's presidential powers, on the same day, February 4, Ukrainian Ambassador to the US Oksana Markarova said that Kiev is ready to discuss with the US the possibility of holding elections before the end of this year if the administration of President Donald Trump raises this issue.

Ms. Markarova also made it clear that the Ukrainian side in the US has not discussed the need to hold elections before the end of 2025, and noted that previously, when the issue of elections was discussed in the 2023-2024 period, Kiev affirmed that elections could only be held after the conflict ended.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/tong-thong-ukraine-bat-ngo-thay-doi-thai-do-ve-dam-phan-voi-ong-putin-phat-tin-hieu-ve-viec-bau-cu-303196.html