Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky says he is prepared to sit down with Russian leader Vladimir Putin – but only to end the war, not to relitigate centuries of history.
In an interview with British journalist and TV personality Piers Morgan, he addressed assassination threats against both himself and Putin, laid out his red lines on Donbas, rejected any legal recognition of occupied territories and questioned the feasibility of elections during wartime.
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While leaving the door open to diplomacy, Zelensky made clear that any path to peace must include security guarantees, defensive safeguards and Ukraine’s direct participation in decisions about its future.
On potential talks with Putin
Zelensky said that in any potential talks with Putin, he would not waste time on historical narratives or debates about why Russia invaded Ukraine.
He reiterated that he does not trust Putin: “I can’t trust the person who has killed so many people in Ukraine and who began a full-scale invasion against my nation.”
“But I see now that only at the level of leaders can we really try to end this war. At the level of three leaders, we can really try to solve the territorial questions, which are very sensitive, painful, and difficult,” Zelensky added.
Zelensky said that in a potential meeting with Putin, he would avoid lengthy historical arguments, which Putin often raises.
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According to the sources, negotiators made “incremental but significant progress,” agreeing on common terms and technical details to avoid confusion and make the ceasefire workable.
“I don’t have personal things against him. No emotions. No emotions. Just — I have an understanding of how to really try to finish this war… I’m not sure that he will hear my arguments. And I don’t need it, because I’m not the aggressor,” the president said.
“That’s why it’s not even interesting to me why he began this war… I don’t need to waste time on historical issues, reasons why he began – all this, I think, is bullsh*t that he’s raising with Americans, about Peter I and so on… I don’t need all this historical sh*t, really,” he added.
According to Zelensky, he would focus solely on concrete solutions to end the war and would not be sidetracked by other matters.
On the assassination of Putin and attempts on his own life
Asked by the host, “If you had an opportunity to kill Putin, would you authorize your forces to take that opportunity?” Zelensky gave an indirect response, suggesting that eliminating Putin might not fundamentally change the situation, as it concerns a broader, entrenched system.
“In their system, I’m not sure that another person would not be Putin. The same as Putin,” he said.
Zelensky also spoke about numerous attempts on his own life, most of which he said were thwarted by Ukrainian security services.
“I don’t know how many times they tried to kill me. The security service told me about some of these times. I understand that in my country, in this difficult period, it could have pushed Ukraine into chaos,” he said.
He further added that he is only one part of the many institutions that enable Ukraine to defend itself, hinting that his assassination would not break the country’s defenses and that the reaction of Ukrainians to such an attack could have entirely different consequences.
“Russians don’t really estimate the reaction of Ukrainians because we are, as I always said, emotionally different people… We can understand each other, we can speak with each other. We can fight, as you see, but for different values.”
About the talks in Geneva and the next round
Zelensky said that the next round of peace talks will again take place in Switzerland.
In his view, if the war is in Europe, then negotiations should also be held here, so that Europeans feel that this is aggression not only against Ukraine, but against Europe as well.
“I just wanted to underline that the next meeting will also be in Switzerland. That’s the information I have today. Of course, our group will come back and I will have a more open briefing than the one I had by phone,” Zelensky said.
Zelensky added that following the peace talks in Geneva, Ukraine and Russia made progress on issues related to the military track. However, on the political track, particularly regarding Donbas, all sides maintain different positions.
According to Zelensky, on the military track the parties are closer to results and to drafting a document that will spell out all the details of “how it is possible or necessary to carry out monitoring immediately after the ceasefire.”
He said that in 2025, during peace talks in Saudi Arabia, the US proposed a ceasefire along the demarcation line, with the territorial issue to be resolved exclusively through diplomatic means.
Now, according to Zelensky, the parties “have slightly moved away from that position,” after the US suggested discussing a free economic zone.
He stressed that Russia is currently offering Ukraine the option to withdraw from Donbas on its own, after which the war would supposedly end. However, Kyiv cannot do this and will not legally recognize the territories as Russian.
“It’s unbelievable how that can even be proposed. It’s our territory, and of course the temporarily occupied territory is also our territory. That’s why it’s not just ‘occupied’ – it’s temporarily occupied. We are not recognizing it judicially, and we are not recognizing it de facto in any papers… It’s very painful for us, but let’s stop where we stand. And this is already a big compromise,” Zelensky said.
On the importance of Donbas
When asked whether he would allow any circumstances under which Ukraine would cede territory during his presidential term “from a sovereignty point of view,” Zelensky replied:
“Just give it by ourselves? I can’t really support such an idea. And I think that in very difficult circumstances, I’m not sure that our people will be ready, because as you said, dozens of thousands of Ukrainians have been killed defending this part of Ukraine,” the president said.
The Donbas is not only about territories – it’s about people, values. It’s part of Ukraine’s independence and also about the strategy of how to defend the country, Zelensky added.
In his view, strong security guarantees are needed – in particular from the US – as well as the presence of European representatives in Ukraine and maintaining the Ukrainian army at around 800,000 troops.
“America as a strong country – and with all respect, we need their security guarantees. But even having all of these, nobody can give us the word that Putin will not come again,” Zelensky said.
He stressed that the Donbas is also important from the perspective of defensive lines.
“One of the very important moments is defending lines. That’s why when we speak about the security of the Donetsk region, I also think, as president, about defending lines which are very strong especially there,” he said.
“What will happen if our forces just go out without any kind of security, and if Russia begins aggression again? If they are already on this territory, how can we defend?” Zelensky added.
On elections in Ukraine
Zelensky said that if there is at least a two-month truce, he is ready to hold presidential elections, but he believes that Russia wants to replace him.
“I think that our partners have to answer one question – what do they want? Do they want real elections, or do they just want to change me? And I think that Russians just want to change me. And then they used something you said before – physical change or other steps. And there is a very, how to say, civilized way. Yes, a civilized way is elections,” he said.
Zelensky assured that he would never reject US proposals if they can bring peace to Ukraine. Therefore, if there is even a two-month truce, he is ready to speak with parliament and push for a decision that deputies currently do not support.
The president noted that Ukrainian citizens also do not support holding elections during the war.
“So if we can have two months of ceasefire for elections, I will do my best to speak with parliament and to push parliament in a direction which they don’t support… I will do my best. I will speak with parliament. They will change the law. I hope so,” he said.
Zelensky added that during communication with Americans, Russians say that, in their view, elections in Ukraine could be held in a week or two. However, Moscow forgets that Ukraine is not Russia.
According to him, there are different parties in the Verkhovna Rada, and even during wartime they hold different positions on many laws and issues. It is impossible to simply “pressure” and “break” parliament – there must be dialogue and real reasons explaining why elections should be held now.
Summing up, Zelensky said: “I said, okay guys, if you can stop Putin for some months for the elections – let’s do it.”
About NATO
Ukraine has done everything possible to join NATO, and now the final word lies with its partners, Zelensky said.
He added that Ukraine has expressed its readiness to be a strong part of the alliance and to strengthen its allies. It cannot do anything more on its own, and “the ball is now in the court of Ukraine’s partners, NATO countries.”
Zelensky added that if Washington and Moscow discuss any decisions regarding Ukraine’s status in NATO, this must be done only with Ukraine’s participation.
“In practice, the US previous administration and this administration don’t see us in NATO. Let’s be honest. But it doesn’t mean that in the future Ukraine will not be. But again, it’s not up to us,” Zelensky said.
On the return of the Russian flag to the Paralympics
The decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete again at the Paralympics under their national flags is dirty and disrespectful, Zelensky believes.
“I don’t want to say that it’s about money because I don’t know. But it’s a dirty decision, absolutely not respectable and not European. This is not Europe from the point of values,” the president said.
According to him, Ukraine will respond to such a decision by the International Paralympic Committee.
He compared the current situation to what he called the “Russian way of life,” describing it as a “creeping occupation.”
“They captured Crimea – no one responded, no one retaliated. Donbas – no one responded, no one imposed sanctions. A full-scale invasion. The same thing with the Olympic Games,” Zelensky added.