- Category
- Latest news
Zelenskyy Open to Direct Talks on Territory With Putin, Deputy FM Says
- Authors
![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is prepared to raise territorial questions during a potential meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, according to Deputy Foreign Minister Sergiy Kyslytsya.
He made the remarks in an interview with NBC’s Meet the Press on Friday, shortly after Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that no such meeting is planned.
“I believe it is moving forward, and it is moving gradually. Unfortunately, not as fast as we would like. But I believe that this Monday and the meeting at the White House were extremely important events of the past few months,” Kyslytsya said, noting the role of US President Donald Trump in advancing talks.
💬 "I think President Zelenskyy made it very clear that he is ready to sit down with President Putin and discuss it [territory]," says Ukraine's Deputy FM Kyslytsya.
— UNITED24 Media (@United24media) August 23, 2025
📹: NBC News pic.twitter.com/G0RdVwY5jz
On the timing of a possible Zelenskyy-Putin meeting, Kyslytsya explained that Ukraine needs “at least a week to prepare a solid draft of a security guarantees package.”
He added: “Ideally, we could have the first draft by early next week, and then the political leadership has to decide how to proceed with it.”
Asked whether the United States should impose additional sanctions if no meeting takes place, Kyslytsya replied affirmatively. “Additional pressure should be almost immediate when the deadline President Trump has in mind expires. Then Russians should really feel the pain of not choosing the path of peace that President Trump has offered.”
On Russia’s demands for more territory, Kyslytsya emphasized that Zelenskyy acts “in line with Ukrainian law and public opinion, which is categorically against trading our land for peace.” However, he added that Zelenskyy “has clearly said he is ready to sit down and discuss territorial issues with Putin, starting from the current line of contact.”
Kyslytsya summarized the differing approaches by pointing to Lavrov’s comments on NBC: “Two worlds, two perspectives—sabotage versus maximum desire to achieve progress.”
Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused Ukraine of showing no interest in a “stable, just and long-term settlement,” repeating Moscow’s claims of readiness for dialogue while blaming the West for supplying arms to Kyiv. His remarks came only hours after Russia launched one of its largest overnight strikes in weeks, using drones, cruise missiles, and Kinzhal missiles across Ukraine.
