Zelensky relents for the first time: willing to include Russia’s security needs in peace talks

Under diplomatic pressure from the United States to actively promote the resumption of peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has made a major change in his stance. For the first time, he has said that he is willing to include "Russia's security guarantee needs" in the discussion of a future post-war peace agreement.

The Financial Times reported on the 28th that Zelensky told reporters in Kiev that Western countries could eventually discuss Moscow’s demands for security guarantees, but he insisted that Kiev’s own security needs must be addressed first. "First we have to solve the problems of this war, and then we can find answers to the questions that Russia has raised based on its own security views and expectations."

Prior to this, Kiev and its Western allies had always rejected Russia's request for security guarantees from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and criticized Russia's attempt to completely reshape the European security architecture in order to reaffirm Moscow's sphere of influence and undermine the sovereignty of neighboring countries.

It is reported that the negotiating teams from Ukraine, Russia and the United States will meet in Abu Dhabi in early November. Zelensky described the talks as "technical" to explore potential cooling measures, including an elusive energy and maritime ceasefire, as well as discussing Ukraine's security guarantees. He insisted that if the discussion involves Europe's security architecture, Europe must be involved.

Hours before Zelenskiy made the above remarks, Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre had just spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin. This was the first direct dialogue between European leaders and Putin since July 2025. Zelensky revealed that the two Nordic leaders believed that Moscow was "serious" about the upcoming trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi.

However, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov ridiculed the Nordic leaders on the 27th for trying to "insert themselves into the negotiation process" and said that the call with Putin "did not discuss anything new." Lavrov even threatened that the war "will continue and may even escalate."

Zelensky admitted frankly that the call from European leaders to Putin came at a sensitive moment when the United States and Russia resumed contact. He noted that Moscow was trying to offer an "economic marriage" to the United States.

According to the Financial Times, U.S. negotiators have been discussing major commercial deals with Russia in an attempt to persuade Moscow to end its war in Ukraine. The two sides discussed potential joint ventures between U.S. and Russian oil giants, reopening Russian airspace for U.S. aircraft to fly over, and resuming cooperation with Russia in the production and supply of titanium metal. People familiar with the matter said the agreements would only come into effect after the war.

Zelensky pointed out that the meeting between Putin and US President Trump in Anchorage, Alaska in 2025 has "ended Russia's diplomatic isolation." He worries that the diesel agreement reached by the United States and Russia this month will trigger more subsequent agreements. He also revealed that he had received "signals" that the United States may reduce its troops in Europe.

In response to the U.S. proposal to establish a "demilitarized zone" on both sides of the Ukrainian-Russian front line, Zelensky said that Ukraine was "ready" for discussions, but he also reiterated that territorial issues can only be negotiated at the leadership level.