Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in a comment to journalists, acknowledged the possibility of seeking a compromise with Russia on a number of sensitive areas, primarily those related to energy and grain supplies. According to him, these issues are “painful” not only for Kyiv and Moscow, but also for a significant part of the international community, which, in the head of state's logic, makes them potentially suitable for a negotiated settlement.

Compromise on Energy and Grain

“Grain, energy — these are painful issues for Ukraine and Russia. And they are painful issues for the whole world. And they are painful issues for India today, for the UAE, for Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Asia, many countries. We are ready to find a compromise,” Zelensky stated, emphasizing that Kyiv's readiness to make concessions in these areas is driven by their global significance. Thus, the president effectively outlined two specific tracks along which, in his assessment, movement toward Moscow is possible.

International Context

Separately, the head of state drew attention to the fact that the issues of energy and grain affect the interests of several regions and states at once. As examples, he named India, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the countries of Asia. In essence, Zelensky attempted to present these topics as not bilateral but multipolar, which could serve as an argument in favor of involving international mediators and taking the interests of third countries into account when developing solutions.

Condition — Actions by Both Sides

At the same time, the president stressed that any discussion of a possible compromise must take into account the actions of both sides. According to him, Ukraine has already made a significant number of concessions and should not remain the only side continuing to make moves toward the other. Thus, further progress on sensitive issues, Zelensky directly linked not only to Kyiv's readiness to seek solutions but also to the need for corresponding actions on the part of Russia.

Expected Meeting with Trump

Against the backdrop of these statements, Zelensky told journalists that he expects to hold a personal meeting with US President Donald Trump in the second half of September — in the so-called “twenties” of the month. At the time of the statement, both the fact and the exact date of the meeting were a matter of expectation rather than a confirmed schedule.

Contradictory Data

Certain inconsistencies in positions and chronology are recorded in open sources. On the one hand, in his current statements Zelensky speaks of Ukraine's readiness to seek a compromise with Russia on energy and grain. On the other hand, earlier (according to RFI data dated 2025) Ukraine officially did not recognize certain formats of negotiations, including those related to the venue in Saudi Arabia. This creates a contrast between the previous position of non-recognition of a number of negotiation tracks and the current rhetoric of readiness for compromise. In addition, the meeting with Trump is mentioned as an expected event rather than a confirmed fact, which requires caution when interpreting the timing.