President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated Ukraine’s readiness for high-level diplomatic engagement to end the war, provided that Russia takes genuine steps toward peace. In his address on June 26, as noted on the official YouTube channel of the President of Ukraine, Zelenskyy emphasized that Russia must bear the responsibility for initiating the conflict and, consequently, must be the one to terminate it.
“Ukraine has provided proposals to our key partners, and even those with ties to Putin have heard from us that meetings are possible and that the end of this war is achievable. However, Russia must take the necessary step toward peace,” the President stated. He clarified that Ukraine does not desire the war to continue, yet it will not concede its sovereignty or independence in exchange for a fragile or illusory ceasefire. While diplomatic discussions remain on the table, the Ukrainian Armed Forces continue to execute long-range operations to degrade Russia’s military potential, which Kyiv refers to as “fair responses” to the ongoing aggression.
Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude to international allies who are exerting pressure on Moscow to move toward diplomacy. The strategy remains clear: hold Russia accountable for its atrocities and ensure that any future settlement is based on the principles of international law rather than territorial concessions. The Kremlin, for its part, has recently attempted to revive narratives involving old frameworks, such as the Istanbul talks, but Ukraine continues to reject such outdated proposals, insisting on a framework that accounts for the current reality on the ground.
The path to peace is a dual-track process. On one side, Ukraine is strengthening its defense, including the creation of fortified lines and enhanced military cooperation with NATO allies. On the other side, it is engaging in a sophisticated diplomatic maneuver to maintain global focus on the necessity of a just peace. As the war enters a new phase of intense pressure, Ukraine’s leadership maintains that it will define its own terms for negotiation in coordination with its European partners, ensuring that national security remains the absolute priority in any prospective dialogue with the aggressor state.