Ceasefire, elections, and return of occupied territories: Zelenskyy’s main theses from the press conference

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has declared his readiness to halt hostilities along the current line of contact, the need to ensure election security, and to continue negotiations with the participation of the United States. He also reported on the failure to receive promised volumes of air defense systems from partners and questioned Russia’s readiness to end the war.

He said this while talking to journalists.

Position on ceasefire

“I will try to explain once again where we are with this issue. In my opinion, a fair version is possible today, we stand where we stand. This is a contact line in any region of our state. So far, so good. Before diplomacy – it is at the moment of ceasefire or at the moment of not only ceasefire, but also at the moment of the end of the war,” Zelensky said during a conversation with journalists on Saturday.

According to him, after the ceasefire, Russia will remain in the temporarily occupied part of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, and Ukraine will control the part of Donbas that is currently under its authority.

“We can only return such territories through diplomatic channels, and we will stand and live in the part of Donbas controlled by the Ukrainian authorities. These are matters of principle,” the president emphasized.

Zelenskyy reported that Russia demands the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the territory of the Donetsk region, but Ukraine categorically rejects this option.

“We explained to our American colleagues that Ukraine cannot leave our territories in any way. I do not see the possibility or desire for this. And I see that the Ukrainian people do not have this either,” he said.

According to the president, the American side proposed the creation of a free economic zone in the disputed territories without heavy weapons and troops, but with civilian authorities and police missions.

“I explained that it will not be the case that we leave, and the Russian army remains. Our army is not leaving because we do not believe that such a free economic zone will be safe. We are sure that the Russian army will want to enter our territory at any moment,” Zelensky said.

The President emphasized that any withdrawal of troops must be symmetrical on both sides.

“If you want to withdraw troops anywhere, the same mirror steps are always taken. If we withdraw 5 kilometers, then they withdraw 5 kilometers. We withdraw 10, and they withdraw 10. And then there is such a zone,” he explained.

“The best, honest option is to stand where we stand. Fewer compromises and less dialogue. If the issue of a free economic zone is raised, I told the partners, I apologize, but the people of Ukraine will decide this,” Zelensky added.

Elections in Ukraine

“Security is, we have already talked with American partners, they have raised this issue. I think if they raise it, it means they know how to help us ensure safe elections – this, first of all, could be a ceasefire, or an end to the war, or a ceasefire at least for the duration of the elections,” Zelensky said at a joint press conference with Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro on Saturday in Kyiv.

The President stressed the importance of participation in the elections of military personnel who defend the state. Zelensky raised the issue of the possibility of voting for Ukrainians who are outside the country.

“Those who are not in Ukraine can come if it is safe, or abroad,” he noted.

“Of course, in today’s situation, if or when we reach the elections, there will be some complications due to the number of Ukrainians abroad. But there are all the tasks for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for this,” the president said.

According to him, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already begun working on this issue and is in contact with partners abroad regarding the possible expansion of infrastructure for comfortable voting.

“In any case, citizens of Ukraine, I believe that when there is a proper security situation — and elections can only be held when there is security for their holding — then, I think, a large number of Ukrainians from abroad will come to Ukraine,” Zelensky added.

The President categorically stated the impossibility of organizing elections in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine controlled by Russia.

“Elections cannot be held in territories not controlled by Ukraine, temporarily occupied, because it is clear how they will be held. Russia – it first talks about the result, even of its internal elections, and then they count the votes,” Zelensky explained.

Return of prisoners and children from Russia

“If we can return both children and prisoners thanks to partners, that’s great. In general, I can tell you that we are now seeing signals from some partners. I don’t know, maybe I’m overly optimistic, but if more countries start talking about ending the war, in my opinion, it can help, bring this closer,” Zelensky said during a conversation with reporters on Saturday.

Commenting on the participation of representatives from Qatar and Turkey at the meeting in Florida on Friday and Saturday, the president noted that he did not know all the details, but both countries wanted to be as involved as possible in helping to end the war.

“Qatar helped with the return of our children and really helped. I am grateful to them. And Turkey organized a platform for our negotiating groups of America, Ukraine, and Russia, thanks to which we returned many of our military prisoners. Therefore, the fact that these representatives want to help, I believe that such signals should be supported,” Zelenskyy said.

US participation in negotiations with Russia

“Emmanuel (Macron, President of France) certainly raised the question of what we will do if the US fails to stop Russia. I told him, and I repeat it once again frankly – we must fight for the US, we must fight for a format when we, with all our allies, are America, and there are European allies who support us,” Zelensky told reporters on Saturday.

According to the president, this is a strong alliance that must be fought for.

“I think this is a strong union and we need to fight for it. If it doesn’t work out, then everyone will definitely think about other options and a different format. But we still need to fight,” he added.

Doubts about Russia’s readiness to end the war

“To be honest, I don’t see any demonstrations from Russia of the desire and readiness to end the war yet. Although our colleagues from the US say that Russia wants the war to end. It wants to. Well, you know how it happens: it wants to, but it can’t. That’s why we don’t see it yet. But, I think, thanks to the persistence of our American partners, God willing, we will be able to stop the Russian war,” Zelensky said during a conversation with journalists on Sunday.

The President noted that the intensity of meetings between the Ukrainian side and the US and European countries demonstrates the calculation of the end of the war.

“We really want this, we demonstrate it, we don’t just talk, we do, we work on various documents. All these documents are important: the 20-point plan, security guarantees, and prosperity, as we say, is the restoration of our state after the end of the war,” the president said.

He stressed the importance of meetings in various formats and mentioned the negotiations with the American side, which concluded on Saturday.

“Today and yesterday, meetings were held again in the United States of America. There is already a 20-point plan on the table today. Let’s see the reaction of the Russians,” the president said.

Zelensky stressed that Vladimir Putin does not feel enough pressure, which is evident from his daily rhetoric.

“In my opinion, America needs to put a little more pressure on the Russians, not give them an alternative, because if it’s not diplomacy, America must clearly say: if it’s not diplomacy, then there will be all the pressure, there will be a very strong package of weapons for Ukraine, there will be very strong support for Ukraine, the US will impose sanctions on the entire economy and all sectors that bring in money. Without this, it is simply impossible,” the head of the Ukrainian state expressed his conviction.

Failure to receive promised volumes of air defense systems

“I’ll be honest: at some points, the partners began to hold back air defense missiles a little, and we still can’t get the full volumes that we need. Why? In principle, it was assumed that Russia would attack, intimidate Europe with its drones… I have a feeling that one of the reasons is not only to check the air defense of the Europeans, but one of the reasons for our partners to hold back a little air defense for Ukraine before winter, that is, not to transfer it to Ukraine, but to hold back, excuse me, for themselves. And I think because the societies of some countries themselves raised this issue,” Zelensky said during a conversation with journalists on Saturday.

The President expressed his belief that it was not easy for the partners to do this, and still expressed gratitude for the volumes of supplies that are available. Zelensky noted that the partners have not yet provided licenses for the production of air defense systems.

“In the near future, for the foreign air defense systems that we use – NASAMS, Iris-T, Hawk, Patriot – we cannot produce these systems. We do not have licenses. We have contacted partners, but unfortunately, they are not yet ready to give us licenses. The second option is to buy missiles,” Zelenskyy said.

The President reported on the difficulties with the Patriot PAK-3 systems.

“It’s difficult with the Patriot PAK-3 systems – you know that American partners produce 55-60 of them a year in total, but I know that they are working on increasing it – I won’t go into details, they are even working with European partners,” he said.

According to Zelensky, he raised this issue during the previous US administration and the current one.

“I raised this issue during the former administration and the current one: give us opportunities, give us licenses, let us produce, we offered, let us produce with Poles or Romanians – with whomever you say, we can partially share production, but there is no such solution yet. Therefore, we are looking, buying, and receiving assistance,” he added.

The US must win a strategic victory in stopping Putin

“I believe that the United States and President Trump have such power. And I believe that we should not look for an alternative to the United States. Or the alternatives are all questionable, whether they will be able to do it. To be honest, I believe that this should be a diplomatic victory for the United States, not a defeat. And that is why Putin must be stopped,” Zelensky said in comments to reporters on Saturday, answering a question about what Ukraine would do if the United States could not convince Russia to stop the war.

The President of Ukraine emphasized that US President Donald Trump is strong enough to stop the war.

“Who else? Probably representatives of the Middle East, but I still think the United States has a better chance. Who else? Europe. The coalition wants it. It’s Europe plus. Our friends from Canada and Japan. But they are at the negotiating table in one capacity or another,” he said.

According to Zelensky, China could stop Russia’s aggression, but it has no such desire.

“And probably China could, but we definitely don’t see any desire from China to end this war,” he added.

The most difficult issues of peace negotiations

“The most difficult issues were and remain. This is the territory of Ukraine. Next is the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, our ZNPP. The third issue is money for restoration. And there are several more technical issues regarding safety guarantees, monitoring format, etc. This is if we are talking about a 20-point plan,” Zelensky said during a conversation with journalists on Saturday.

According to him, the issue is not in the points of intersection, but in the fact that Ukraine has conveyed its vision to the United States of America.

“The issue here is not the points of intersection, but the fact that today, at this very moment, at this hour, we have conveyed our vision to the United States of America. They will communicate with Russia, and we are waiting for a response,” the president added.

Zelenskyy reported that Ukraine also conveyed its vision regarding other documents.

“As for other documents regarding Prosperity, that is, restoration, regarding security guarantees, we also conveyed our vision, and the United States of America said what they are ready for. Now our group will communicate with the American side in Florida,” he added.

By the way, this weekend in Miami, a meeting of American and Russian officials will be held to discuss a possible end to the war between Ukraine and Russia.

As a reminder, Ukraine and the United States plan to hold a new round of negotiations in preparation for a potential peace agreement . The consultations will involve working groups and military experts who will analyze maps.

The United States, Ukraine, and key European countries have reportedly made significant progress in intensive talks on ending the war, security guarantees, and the future reconstruction of Ukraine. The American side calls the talks “very positive,” and the package of security guarantees the strongest ever proposed.

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