“Zelensky: ‘I am ready for direct negotiations with Putin. But I will not be kind to him.'”

“Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (pictured) has stated that he would be open to ‘direct negotiations’ with Vladimir Putin. He made this announcement late last night, signaling a potential shift. ‘If this is the only option through which we can bring peace to Ukrainian citizens and avoid losing lives, we will certainly opt for this choice,’ the president said in an interview with British journalist Piers Morgan, specifying that other participants would also be required.

Zelensky affirmed that Ukraine is ready to end the ‘hot phase’ of the war and that his willingness to negotiate with Russia represents a compromise. ‘We will talk with Putin… Even talking to Putin is a compromise,’ he said. ‘What does my personal opinion of him matter? I will not be kind to him—I consider him an enemy. And to be honest, I believe he sees me as an enemy too.’

Until now, Zelensky has consistently rejected negotiations, especially with Moscow, which seeks to impose its own conditions. In 2022, he even issued a decree banning any talks with Russia as long as Putin remained in power. However, Donald Trump’s return to the White House—and the advance of Russian forces in the Donbas—has accelerated the prospect of negotiations. The U.S. president recently mentioned that discussions with Moscow are already ‘underway.’

Furthermore, Zelensky stated that Kyiv is ready to receive ‘investments from American companies’ to extract rare earth minerals from Ukrainian territory, which is rich in such resources. This comes after Trump made it clear that securing these strategic minerals for modern industrial technology was a condition for continued U.S. arms supplies.

Reacting quickly to Trump’s words, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz dismissed the tycoon’s demand as ‘selfish.’ However, the Ukrainian leader has already discussed the matter with Trump and sees no obstacles to American firms taking the lead in extraction operations in Ukraine. ‘I would like American companies to develop this sector here,’ Zelensky emphasized in a press conference.”