Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy affirmed on October 28, 2025, that Kyiv is open to immediate peace negotiations with Russia but firmly rejected any preconditioned territorial concessions, emphasising that Ukraine will not retreat from its current front lines as demanded by Moscow. In remarks to reporters, Zelensky stressed that diplomacy must proceed from the status quo, without Kyiv ceding additional land, amid stalled summit plans between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest. The Ukrainian leader's stance comes as Trump, who has prioritised ending the 20-month war since his reelection, endorsed Kyiv's push for an unconditional ceasefire along existing lines while imposing sanctions on Russia's two largest oil firms—Rosneft and Gazprom Neft—to pressure Moscow economically.

The comments underscore Kyiv's delicate balancing act in the conflict, which erupted with Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022 and has since claimed over 500,000 military casualties on both sides, according to Western intelligence estimates. Zelensky proposed flexible venues for talks—anywhere except Russia or its ally Belarus—to facilitate progress but reiterated that Ukraine's sovereignty remains non-negotiable."It's absolutely clear that we're approaching diplomacy only from the position where we currently stand. We will not take any steps back and leave one part of our state or another," he declared, echoing earlier statements from the Istanbul talks in March 2022, where neutral sites like Turkey were floated but yielded no breakthroughs.

Russia's demands, including recognition of annexed regions like Donetsk and Luhansk, have consistently derailed truces, with Putin insisting on "denazification" and demilitarisation as prerequisites. The postponed Budapest summit, initially slated for late October, was scrapped after Moscow's intransigence, though Trump aides hinted at alternative formats, possibly virtual or in neutral Ankara.

Zelensky's appeal extended to U.S. lawmakers, urging stricter sanctions on Russian energy exports to amplify economic leverage. Trump's October 27 executive order targeted Rosneft and Gazprom Neft, aiming to slash Moscow's $300 billion annual oil revenues by 20-30%, per U.S. Treasury projections, building on G7 price caps that have already forced Russia to discount crude to India and China.

This aligns with Trump's "peace through strength" doctrine, which includes $61 billion in fresh U.S. aid to Ukraine approved in April 2024, though delivery delays have hampered Kyiv's summer counteroffensive. European allies, including Germany and France, echoed support for talks without preconditions at a Brussels summit on October 27, pledging €50 billion in loans backed by frozen Russian assets. However, fatigue is mounting: Poland's elections and Hungary's veto threats in the EU complicate unified backing.

Also Read: EU, Ukraine Back Trump’s Peace Initiative, Call For Increased Pressure on Putin

As winter looms, with Russian advances in Kharkiv stalling amid ammunition shortages, Zelensky's position highlights Ukraine's resilience—bolstered by NATO training for 100,000 troops—while exposing war's human toll, including 10 million displaced and grain export disruptions inflating global food prices by 15%. With Trump eyeing a quick resolution to refocus on China, the coming weeks could test whether economic isolation forces Putin's hand or entrenches a frozen conflict, reminiscent of Korea's armistice. For Zelensky, whose approval ratings hover at 65% per recent KIIS polls, the message is unequivocal: peace yes, surrender never.

Also Read: Trump Expresses Doubts Over Ukraine’s War Chances, Will Meet Putin Soon For Peace Talks