Zelensky changes rhetoric about negotiations with Putin, focusing on Trump - WP

About it writes The Washington Post. Zelensky's messages were cautious, according to the publication, and they did not talk directly about Kyiv's readiness for territorial or other concessions. But if earlier the Ukrainian leader said that negotiations are possible only after Russia has removed its troops, now it emphasizes the need for long -term security, and not on the immediate return of territories.

"The change in Zelensky's rhetoric is what Ukrainian and Western officials have noticed - probably can be explained by the deterioration of the situation on the front line and the arrival of the US administration, which has questioned the future security assistance of Kiev," the WP said. Journalists say that at the last meetings with Donald Trump and European leaders Zelensky mostly focused on "strong peace" for Ukraine.

The main priority is the invitation to NATO and other security guarantees, such as the presence of Western peacekeepers to prevent Russian attacks in the future. According to officials and analysts, the change in the tone of Zelensky is probably an attempt to meet Trump's emphasis on the termination of conflict. Yes, the former US Ambassador to Russia and political scientist Michael McFol noted that the Zelensky administration "understands that the situation will change for Trump.

" For its part, NATO diplomats have stated that Ukraine's invitation to the Alliance remains a distant perspective due to fears and political uncertainty among the member states of the military-political bloc. At the same time, the Alliance understands that Zelensky cannot give up the requirements of Western security guarantees. Experts also have doubts that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is ready for negotiations as long as his troops have success on the front, despite the heavy losses.

Some officials suggest that Zelensky is smart and hopes that his "more compliant position will attract Trump's White House and leave open to Ukraine's more support for Ukraine" if Putin does not want to sit at the negotiating table. The publication emphasizes that a high -ranking Ukrainian official stated that they were "beginning to believe" that the war can really end next year, since after the election of Trump's conversation about the peace agreement, they have intensified.

At the same time, the interlocutor of the WP said that he does not think that you can reach any agreement with Putin. We will remind, on December 19, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke about the conditions of termination of the war offered by the Kremlin, and called the Russian leader Vladimir Putin "old fantasier". He explained why the armistice of Kiev is unprofitable. Meanwhile, Donald Trump wants to meet Vladimir Putin, but there is no prerequisite that this meeting will take place.