Zelensky grows skeptical of talks as European leaders prepare Paris summit

President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine said he has grown more cautious about nearly yearlong peace talks with Russia as European leaders prepare to meet in Paris on Tuesday to discuss commitments for Ukraine’s postwar security. Zelensky, who has previously described the negotiations as "90 percent complete," told journalists in Kyiv that Ukraine is "simultaneously talking and preparing for the war to rage on." "I do not want and will not wait another six months hoping that maybe it will work," he said, adding that the country must pursue an end to the war while preparing for negative steps by Russia.

The talks still face major unresolved issues, the article said: Ukraine and the United States have not settled territorial questions or control of a Russian-occupied nuclear power plant, and a draft plan proposing Article 5–like security guarantees would rely on a so-called Coalition of the Willing of about 30 countries.

Zelensky met with national security advisers from 18 of those countries and has said that France and Britain would have to send troops for Kyiv to agree to lay down arms; the report said Russia has flatly rejected some Ukrainian proposals and is unlikely to accept peacekeeping provisions involving NATO.

Zelensky has reshuffled his government and security apparatus, naming Kyrylo Budanov as presidential chief of staff and reassigning Serhiy Kyslytsia, saying the moves reflect preparing on two tracks: pursuing talks and preparing for a drawn-out war.

Key Topics

World, Volodymyr Zelensky, Paris Summit, Ukraine, Russia, Kyrylo Budanov