The key facts

  • Zelensky: limits on Ukraine's army and its neutrality are not up for discussion
  • The territorial issue is a «red line» to be discussed only at the leaders' level
  • Kyiv is ready in November to discuss all issues except the territorial one at the level of technical groups

Kyiv's demands at the talks

Following an interview with the TSN television channel, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky stated on his Telegram channelthat the country's security guarantees «cannot be dictated» by Russia. According to him, limiting the size of Ukraine's army and its neutrality are not up for discussion. «Territorial issues are a red line that can be discussed exclusively at the leaders' level,» Gazeta.Ru quoted him as saying.

Readiness for talks and technical groups

Zelensky noted that the United States has long raised the issue of «exchanging territories,» but there are other proposals as well. «Everyone must understand: first, we are not trading anything for anything. We are ready for talks,» he said. According to him, Kyiv is ready to discuss all issues except the territorial one in November at the level of technical groups. In one of his subsequent posts, the Ukrainian leader clarified that this could concern an energy ceasefire, a halt to strikes on shipping, grain exports, and prisoner exchanges.

The Kremlin's position on Europe's role

Yuri Ushakov, an aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin, stated that Europe should be part of the dialogue on Ukraine, since it is Europe that maintains the desire to continue hostilities. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, for his part, said that the EU only talks about appointing a representative to take part in the negotiations but does nothing to make it happen. Earlier, Donald Trump hinted at movement in the conflict in Ukraine.

Context

The statements by the two sides highlight a divergence in approaches to the format of negotiations: Kyiv is drawing firm boundaries — territorial issues only at the leaders' level and a refusal to discuss neutrality or limits on the army — while at the same time leaving a broad range of topics open for technical groups in November. Moscow, according to Ushakov, sees Europe as a participant in the dialogue, whereas Peskov notes that the EU has not yet appointed a representative. For observers, this means that practical progress in the coming weeks is possible only on individual technical issues — energy, shipping, grain exports, and prisoner exchanges, — rather than on an overall settlement.