President Volodymyr Zelensky told The Sun that high-stakes peace talks between Russia and Ukraine could be held as early as this Sunday.
US-Led Summit Planned for Abu Dhabi
The meeting is expected to be organised by a US team in Abu Dhabi and would mark the first in-person dialogue since former President Donald Trump lifted sanctions on Moscow.
Initially scheduled for the end of November, Zelensky said he wants the trilateral talks moved forward to Sunday.
Kyiv is urging the schedule to be accelerated.
You can watch The Sun's full explosive interview with President Zelensky here
Zelensky Emphasises Hope and Readiness
In the second part of the exclusive interview, the Ukrainian leader expressed optimism for progress but warned President Trump that Ukraine will not accept a costly peace.
Speaking from his fortified Kyiv base, Zelensky said, "Of course, without hope, nobody can live. We are ready to speak, we are ready for negotiations, any kind of format, we are even ready to speak about any kind of topics, sensitive topics for us."
He added, "It may not be fair even to discuss some topics, but we are ready, because I don't want to show that we are stopping the negotiation process."
Zelensky also urged Trump to change his stance and stop appeasing Putin, insisting the US stay neutral while recognising Russia as the aggressor.
Questions on Escalation vs. Peace
When asked whether the situation was closer to escalation or peace, Zelensky replied, "Very hard to answer. I mean, everything in this war depends on the will of different countries or leaders. I hope that we will find a way."
He continued, "If the United States, our strong partner, understands that Putin's goal is to occupy us and to destroy us, they can't be on Putin's side."
US-Ukraine Tensions Over Recent Talks
Zelensky claimed the United States derailed a Brussels meeting on Monday, saying a Ukrainian delegation was invited then postponed at the last minute to focus on Middle-East developments.
In a separate briefing, he dismissed Trump's calls for him to step aside, stating, "Freedom of speech exists not only in Ukraine, but in the US as well. President Trump can say whatever he wants about me personally, but not about Ukraine."
Zelensky on Putin's Motives
The president said Ukrainians, many of whom grew up in the USSR, can see through Putin's lies better than Americans. He described Putin as a "deeply Soviet person" whose personal aim is to occupy and destroy Ukraine.
Recent Tragedy and External Pressures
Hours before the interview, one-year-old Angelina Mariukhna was killed by a drone in Kharkiv, and her mother, 28-year-old Inna, also died.
Zelensky noted that US envoy Steve Witkoff's recent remarks praising Putin and the restriction of Elon Musk's Starlink system have added pressure on Ukraine's defence.
Call for Faster Action
He concluded that the war's outcome depends on the will of leaders and urged the United States to focus on the peace process rather than the Middle East, saying, "If you already decided that the priority is the Middle East, you have to know that you will make this peace process slow."
