‘We Pushed Him a Little’: Zelensky Says Putin Now Ready for Real Negotiations
President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine “pushed” Vladimir Putin toward readiness for negotiations, though Russia continues intense frontline attacks. Kyiv is seeking a concrete format for talks while preparing a 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange with US mediation. Zelensky warned that if Moscow re
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Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared his readiness for real negotiations, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Speaking in his evening address on May 10, Zelensky said Ukraine has long been ready for talks and that the next step is to determine a concrete format for dialogue.
“Now Putin himself says that he is finally ready for real meetings. We pushed him a little, and we have been preparing for meetings for a long time, so we need to find a format. We need to end this war, reliably guarantee security,” Zelensky said.
He stressed that negotiations must not only stop the fighting but also ensure lasting security guarantees for Ukraine.
Following the May 9 Victory Day parade, Putin said the war in Ukraine was “moving toward its end,” without giving a timeline.
He reiterated claims that Russia’s 2022 withdrawal from Kyiv came at the request of French President Emmanuel Macron, alleging Western “globalist elites” then chose to prolong the war.
On negotiations, Putin and aide Yuri Ushakov said Robert Fico, the Slovak prime minister, had conveyed Zelensky’s interest in talks. Moscow signaled readiness to host a meeting, though Putin said a summit in a third country would only follow finalized agreements.
Kyiv rejected Moscow as a venue, as the Kremlin previously proposed. Presidential adviser Serhiy Leshchenko said talks in the Russian capital were “impossible,” while Zelensky has stated he is open to meeting Putin in a neutral location.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, returning from Victory Day commemorations in Moscow, stated that Vladimir Putin expects President Volodymyr Zelensky to initiate direct contact via telephone if he is interested in negotiations. Fico relayed a message from a recent meeting in Armenia where Zelensky expressed readiness to meet the Russian leader in any format.
The statements come amid US-mediated efforts led by President Donald Trump’s team to revive a peace framework. The May 9 parade itself underscored Russia’s strained military display, with no heavy equipment and the presence of North Korean troops, as Moscow operated under a temporary Ukrainian no-strike arrangement.
Is Russia really observing a ceasefire?
Zelensky said Ukraine refrained from long-range strikes for two days as Russia did not carry out massive attacks. However, he emphasized that there was no real “silence” along the front line.
“But in the frontline areas, in the communities near the front, there was no peace. The Russians continue their assault activity in those areas that are key for them. There are shellings, there were drone strikes of various types on the front,” he said.
According to Zelensky, there were more than 150 assault operations, over 100 shellings, and nearly 10,000 kamikaze drone strikes over the weekend.
“That is, at the front, the Russian army does not observe silence and does not even try very hard. All our Ukrainian units act in a mirror manner, defending our positions exactly as needed,” he added.
How will Ukraine respond if attacks escalate?
Zelensky said Ukraine would continue to respond in kind, warning that any return to large-scale Russian strikes would trigger an immediate response.
“In the future, we will react in the same mirror way, and if the Russians decide to return to a full-scale war, our sanctions for this will be immediate and tangible,” he said.
“The distance is becoming less and less important – we have shown this with our long-range approach. Ukraine has always behaved clearly and honestly in this regard,” he added.
What is known about the planned prisoner exchange?
Zelensky also confirmed that preparations are underway for a large-scale prisoner exchange under a “1,000 for 1,000” formula.
He said the US has assumed guarantees to ensure the agreement’s implementation.
“Our contacts with the American side about guarantees… are continuing. The prisoner exchange – a thousand for a thousand – is being prepared and must be carried out. These guarantees were taken on by the Americans,” he said.
According to Zelensky, Ukraine has already handed over lists of 1,000 individuals to the Russian side. He emphasized that, given US mediation, Kyiv expects Washington to play an active role in ensuring the exchange is carried out.
Julia is a Deputy Head of News and correspondent for Kyiv Post who has previously worked as a parliamentary editor, journalist, and news editor. She has specialized in covering the work of the Ukrainian parliament, government, and law enforcement agencies.
