Home › Politics › Zelenskyy signals readiness for another round of talks
Zelenskyy signals readiness for another round of talks
Summary
A look back at Ukraine's stated willingness to hold fresh talks with Russia and the United States, and the positions that divide the sides.
What did Kyiv signal about peace talks as of 6 April 2026? According to reports from 4 April, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine was willing to hold the next round of peace talks with Russia and the United States. The statement framed the format as three-sided, with Washington at the table alongside the two warring parties.
The gap between the sides
Willingness to meet did not mean the sides were close. As later described in background accounts of the negotiations, which have run in several rounds since Russia's invasion in February 2022, the demands remain far apart.
Russia's president Vladimir Putin seeks recognition of all occupied land as Russian, and wants Russia to be given regions it claims but does not fully occupy. He also seeks guarantees that Ukraine will never join NATO, curtailment of Ukraine's military, and the lifting of sanctions on Russia.
Zelenskyy seeks a ceasefire, a full withdrawal of Russian troops, and the return of prisoners and kidnapped Ukrainian children. He also wants prosecution of Russian leaders for war crimes and security guarantees against further aggression.
What the signal meant
By publicly stating readiness, Kyiv placed itself on record as open to continued diplomacy. The 4 April statement did not set out a date or venue for the next round, and it did not alter the positions described above.
