Putin agrees, Zelensky is ready. The end is near

After completing all domestic negotiations, Volodymyr Zelensky canceled his planned interview with Fox News. Instead, the Ukrainian President held a briefing, answering numerous questions and clarifying issues that had remained uncertain. He provided detailed information about the key topics discussed during his expanded bilateral and European talks with US President Donald Trump. He also announced that a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin is imminent. Below is a full translation of Zelensky’s briefing.

Zelensky: Thank you for waiting. A short introduction, and then I can move on to your questions. Good afternoon! First of all, I would like to thank you for covering all the events taking place and for your support. I would like to thank President Trump for this meeting. This was one of our best meetings. It was important. We talked about many issues and held a long, detailed conversation.

I even showed my American colleagues a map of the battlefield. I presented concrete information—not just rumors—about who actually controls what and what the situation looks like. We discussed many issues, but first of all I want to thank our European leaders. I think this was an important step. The European Union, as well as other European countries—Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Finland, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte—came in person, expressed their support for Ukraine, and discussed a very important issue: what will happen next, how to support the state, and what needs to be done for a stable and just peace. Security guarantees were also on the agenda.

This is very important for us, because when the war ends—and we believe the war will end—the key is that it should not just be a temporary pause in the fighting, but real peace. And this peace must be protected by our partners through security guarantees. Yesterday we did not have the opportunity to communicate directly, but our team carried out extensive work. The important point is that we had 30 countries participating. There were several sessions and discussions. It was important that 30 key partners stood together and expressed their views on the next steps. Alongside the Europeans, representatives of Canada, Australia, Japan and the “coalition of the willing” also took part. Of course, you may also ask questions about our talks today with the US President and later with colleagues at the joint meeting. But the main issues were about security guarantees. This was the most important matter.

We will begin with the foundation for ending the war: what kind of protection should exist at the end, and we will work from that point. There is a clear signal from the US—they will act as a facilitator, a coordinator, and a participant in security guarantees for Ukraine. I believe this is a major step forward. I cannot reveal all the details, but the political will and the political decision themselves are also important. This was the first issue.

The second issue is the return of children. The First Lady of the United States and her entire team understand this problem well and intend to engage in this very important, painful and complex issue—the return of Ukrainian children. There are different cases and examples, requiring different approaches. We also discussed this with the US President. He acknowledged that it is a difficult process but said he would help me pursue an “all-for-all” exchange. This applies not only to prisoners of war, but also to civilians, including journalists and political prisoners.

We agreed to move forward in this direction. The US President also supported holding a trilateral meeting with the participation of Ukraine, the United States and Russia, and proposed to hold it as soon as possible. Of course, this will require agreement from all parties. After our joint meeting, and after we settled on how to proceed with security guarantees, the US President contacted the Russian side, and they discussed possible diplomatic steps.

Russia first proposed a bilateral meeting between Ukraine and Russia, followed by a trilateral one. As I said, we are ready for any format—the main point is that it must be at the level of leaders. Because only leaders can resolve these difficult and painful issues. At least for us, they are extremely important.

That is why I agreed, and all European leaders supported me: we are ready for a bilateral meeting with Putin. After that, we expect a trilateral meeting. Much will depend on how the bilateral meeting unfolds. Overall, I believe the outcome so far is good and reasonable. Thank you.

Journalist: We would like to ask whether there is any clarity regarding the bilateral and subsequent trilateral meetings. Specifically, will a meeting take place without new demands from the Russian side, or will conditions related to Donbas and other issues again be imposed, prolonging the process?

Zelensky: We do not yet have details about the bilateral meeting. When I spoke with the President of the United States, I emphasized that all sides must show a genuine desire to end the war. Such a desire means a diplomatic meeting at the level of leaders. If any party fails to demonstrate readiness, we ask the United States to act accordingly.

There is pressure from the United States. At this stage, we are considering different formats, and a meeting may indeed take place.

Journalist: So, as you said, there will first be a bilateral meeting, followed by a trilateral one. Are you ready, or are you waiting for conditions to appear?

Zelensky: As I said, we are ready for any format at the level of leaders. If Ukraine sets broad, absolutely fair conditions for the meeting—for example, a ceasefire—then Russia will respond with hundreds of its own conditions. That is why I believe the meeting should take place without preconditions, after which we can consider how this process will lead to ending the war.

Journalist: Mr. President, one more question. (1+1 TV channel) Volodymyr Oleksandrovych, we saw you with a map in the Oval Office. On it, the temporarily occupied territories were marked. There is information that a dispute arose over the percentages shown. What do you say about this?

Zelensky: Yes, I raised the issue of the percentages on that map, because I know very well the actual proportions of temporarily occupied territories. But it was not a dispute. It was a sincere, constructive, and meaningful discussion.

Journalist: About the US position: are they still considering territorial exchange? Or is there a formula acceptable for Ukraine—for example, recognizing certain territories as Russian?

Zelensky: We discussed this at length with the US President. They also prepared maps, and I am very grateful for that. We had a similar map as well. It is important to stress that the occupation of some parts of our country—such as Crimea or certain areas in the east—did not result from a direct frontal assault by a powerful army. In Crimea, for example, there were no major battles at all. So it is misleading to say that “a large territory was occupied quickly because the Russian army was strong.”

These points matter. The US President needs to understand the real situation, the actions of our forces, and the strength of the Ukrainian army. For example, here is a clear figure: in 1,000 days, Russia occupied only 1 percent of Ukraine’s territory. Many people think it is 18 or 20 percent, but in fact, it is not even 1 percent. This fact helps to view the situation from a different perspective.

For the first time, I had the opportunity to show the US President and his team a detailed picture of the situation, not from notes but directly from my own knowledge—every square kilometer where blood was spilled. This is a deeply sensitive matter. I wanted the President to see and hear us. I believe he did. That is why the issue of territories will remain between me and Putin.

Journalist: Suspilne, please. According to the Financial Times, Ukraine is offering the US a $100 billion arms deal. Could you explain in detail what this means?

Zelensky: Security guarantees will likely be expanded by our partners and will gradually become more detailed. Naturally, all of this will be put in writing and formalized within the next week or ten days. As I have said, part of the security guarantees is our own responsibility, meaning additional funding will be required. I intend to secure these resources. Our European partners must also understand that we need to identify financial sources for a certain period. Over time, this will become part of the broader system of security guarantees. Thanks to this support, we will be able to pay all salaries from our national budget.

However, this may leave insufficient funds for domestic production, as is already the case. Our partners have never provided money to cover salaries for our military—that is not possible—but they have allocated funds for production. If we cover higher military salaries ourselves, we will need significant resources for production financing. The second part of the package, therefore, concerns US weapons—systems we currently do not possess, including aircraft, air defense systems, and more. For now, I will leave the details aside. In total, our proposals include a package worth about \$90 billion. This forms the second element of the security guarantees.

The third element is drone production. We reached an agreement with the US President that once exports are opened, the United States will purchase Ukrainian drones. This is vital, as it will finance domestic drone production and provide companies with the resources to expand. Joint production with partners is also part of this. So, the second element of security guarantees is what we will do ourselves, while the third is what our partners can contribute. That is as much as I can say for now about how the system of guarantees will work and what forces will be involved in Ukraine’s defense.

Journalist: Thank you, Mr. President. One last question: was there any issue raised in these multilateral or bilateral negotiations that you find absolutely unacceptable?

Zelensky: These were discussions, a dialogue with our partners. Everyone presented their own arguments. No unacceptable decisions were made. I think each of us fulfilled our responsibilities.

Journalist: Let me clarify. Did you personally request that the United States coordinate the security guarantees, or was this an initiative proposed by President Trump?

Zelensky: This issue will be clarified further. What matters most is that we are working together on security guarantees. The role of the United States in providing these guarantees is extremely important for us.

Journalist: On the question of American peacekeepers: Donald Trump mentioned this before the meeting. Can you say what was agreed?

Zelensky: It may not only be American peacekeepers, but also NATO countries. We are talking about a “coalition of the willing” consisting of roughly 30 states. We will see what each country can realistically offer. Some may propose deploying troops, others intelligence support, naval or air security, or financing for Ukraine’s national production. There will be different formats. Some partners are willing but limited by their constitutions, so they can only provide financial support. This is a broad and complex issue, and we must wait until the details are clear.

Journalist: Mr. President, today Donald Trump announced that he had a phone call with Vladimir Putin between the main expanded-format meeting and its informal part. At what stage did this occur, what issues were discussed, and what did he tell you afterward?

Zelensky: We held bilateral negotiations first, and then discussed these agreements in an expanded format. There we focused on steps regarding security guarantees and possible meetings. At that point, President Trump said: “I will go and discuss this with Putin, and to be honest, I will come back to you with an important issue.” He did exactly that.

We were prepared for this. Afterward, we spoke with our colleagues about technical aspects—for example, when we might hold a videoconference on security guarantees. Then we returned to the Oval Office, where the President said a bilateral format would be proposed first, followed by a trilateral one.

Journalist: Mr. President, how important was the participation of your European partners today? To what extent did it influence the outcome of the meeting? The NATO Secretary General and the President of the European Commission were also present. How did you manage to gather them so quickly?

Zelensky: First of all, they respect Ukraine and our people. I believe we also have very good personal relations with them. I am sincerely grateful for their presence and for our unity. Their support had a real impact on the meeting because Ukraine is not alone. This strong backing is crucial. Of course, there are also tactical considerations, but the key point is that we are united. Thank you.

Journalist: Mr. President, people in London are asking many questions about you. My question is about security guarantees: in addition to financing the Ukrainian army and drone production, were new types of weapons or more specific assistance packages from the United States discussed?

Zelensky: What we expect from the United States is a substantial package. We know what is needed, and we are determined to achieve it. This is the starting point, and the beginning is very important. Everyone has confirmed their participation, and that matters. For now, I cannot provide more details. This is not only about funding but also about intelligence sharing, and, in certain cases, direct involvement in Ukraine’s defense. But it is too early to go into specifics. Thank you. Goodbye.