In an interview with the German broadcaster ARD, as reported by "Hvylya", Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky indicated his readiness for direct negotiations with the Russian dictator, admitting the possibility of compromises regarding Russia's territorial demands to achieve a truce.
According to the Head of State, ending hostilities depends primarily on pressure placed on Moscow by international partners. "The war will end when US President Trump, together with the Europeans, puts Putin in his place and forces him into genuine negotiations that yield results," Zelensky emphasized.
The President also sharply criticized Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban for threatening to block €90 billion in EU aid. "If he blocks €90 billion, then for us, he stands on the same level as Putin and Lukashenko," the Ukrainian leader stated.
At the same time, Zelensky thanked Germany for its leadership in supporting Ukraine, noting that Berlin currently leads in the volume of financial aid, surpassing Norway. He also expressed hope that following the establishment of a ceasefire, Germany would join France and the UK—who have already agreed to deploy troops to Ukraine for peacekeeping—in maintaining security.
Addressing the situation on the front lines, Zelensky dismissed claims that Ukraine is losing the war as a "Russian narrative." He pointed to the recent liberation of 300 square kilometers of territory in the Zaporizhzhia region. He noted that this success was facilitated, in part, by Elon Musk's SpaceX, which cut off the Russian army's access to the Starlink satellite communication system, restricting access exclusively to Ukrainian units via a so-called "white list."
Regarding territorial issues, the President noted that such decisions can only be made at the level of state leaders. "I have a simple message for Putin: I am ready to meet. We must end the war," Zelensky concluded.