Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasised on Sunday, Ukraine’s Independence Day, that direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin remain “the most effective way to move forward,” as diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict appear to have stalled.
Speaking at a joint press conference in Kyiv with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, he reiterated his call for negotiations with Putin. “We must continue to pressure Russia to end this war, to do so with dignity, ensuring security and peace. This is only possible through the united efforts of all who value peace and respect international law. Direct talks between leaders are the most effective format to achieve progress,” Zelenskyy stated.
Carney, who was an honorary guest at the celebrations, issued a stark warning, asserting that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine “will not stop here” if left unanswered by Ukraine’s allies. He also called for an immediate ceasefire between the two nations.
Efforts to organise a meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin have been fraught with difficulties. Hopes for convening such a summit suffered another setback on Friday when Russia ruled out the possibility of holding immediate talks. U.S. President Donald Trump’s earlier attempts to mediate between the two leaders have so far failed to yield results.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov criticised Zelenskyy for being “stubborn” and “insistent at any cost” about arranging a meeting with Putin, further complicating the prospects for dialogue. Meanwhile, U.S. envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg was in Kyiv on Sunday, attending Independence Day festivities. In recognition of his efforts, Kellogg was decorated during the celebrations.
In an NBC television interview aired the same day, U.S. Vice President JD Vance revealed that Russia had recently made “significant concessions” regarding Ukraine in discussions with President Trump. “They actually want to be flexible on some of their core demands,” he remarked, offering a glimmer of hope amidst the impasse.
Both Russia and Ukraine are seeking to gain favour with the United States in the ongoing efforts to end the three-year-long conflict. Trump had notably met with Putin in Alaska on 15 August, followed by a meeting with Zelenskyy and his European allies shortly thereafter.
Carney underlined Ukraine’s sovereignty in his comments to reporters, stressing that “it is not for Russia to decide how to guarantee Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, and freedom in the future. That is the choice of Ukraine and its partners.”
While Carney urged all parties to reach a ceasefire, Trump has maintained his preference for a direct peace deal between Russia and Ukraine to end the war.
