President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has outlined specific indicators that will help gauge the Russian leadership’s genuine readiness to end the armed conflict. According to him, the primary marker of Moscow's intentions could be a practical energy truce as the first step toward de-escalation.
Energy Truce as a Priority Marker
In an interview with TSN.Tyzhden anchor Alla Mazur, the Ukrainian leader explained that the Kremlin's actions must be reflected in concrete steps. First and foremost, this concerns halting strikes against critical infrastructure and the energy sector, which would demonstrate a readiness to stop the bloodshed in practice.
If such practical steps by Moscow are absent, the Ukrainian side sees a trilateral meeting at the highest level involving state leaders as the next possible stage. The head of state admitted that such a summit could indeed take place in the future.
Assessment of Dialogue Readiness and Washington's Position
At the same time, Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed skepticism regarding the authenticity of the Russian side's intentions. In his assessment, Moscow's statements about a possible resumption of peaceful dialogue may merely be an attempt to project the appearance of a negotiation process to appease the U.S. administration led by Donald Trump.
The Ukrainian leader emphasized that any real results can only be judged after the scheduled contacts take place. Meanwhile, Kyiv is closely monitoring international developments, including events in the Middle East, as well as potential locations for prospective talks in Europe or Abu Dhabi.
Stance on Sanctions and Potential Consequences
Earlier, the Ukrainian side released details of a document handed over to the Russian leadership through U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff. As part of the ongoing diplomatic process, official Kyiv has also warned Washington against prematurely lifting sanctions against Moscow solely to stimulate the negotiation track.
The further development of the situation will depend on the Kremlin's readiness to back up its words with real actions on the ground. Any compromise decisions must be based on achieved results rather than preliminary declarations of intent.
