A top advisor to President Zelensky has declared Ukraine "ready" for peace talks and stated that Zelensky would meet Putin "in any format", while simultaneously ruling out territorial concessions and calling for frozen Russian assets to fund reparations.
The 28-point peace plan previously presented by the Trump administration "no longer exists" in its original form, according to Ihor Brusylo, Deputy Chief of Staff of President Zelensky's Office. In an interview with our colleagues from RTL.lu, Brusylo, a key foreign policy advisor who has worked directly with Zelensky since 2021, reframed the document as a framework for ongoing discussions.
"Negotiations are on. I cannot say this is the end of the game", Brusylo stated. He indicated that the proposals would be presented to the Russian side by US allies to gauge Moscow's willingness to engage. "We need to get some feedback from the Russian Federation to understand whether they intend at all to look at the peace options and how determined they are in seeking a ceasefire, first of all", Brusylo said.
On the details of such a framework, Brusylo outlined a hierarchy of security guarantees, with a strong Ukrainian military as the top priority.
"For us, the strong Ukrainian Armed Forces is a top priority of any security guarantee", he said. The second priority is "the reliable and strong air shield over Ukraine provided by our allies", followed by "the strong Ukrainian defence industry."
He further identified European Union membership as a critical security component, asserting that Ukraine belongs in Europe and must join the bloc. While hopeful for future NATO membership, Brusylo conceded that if the alliance is not ready to expand, Ukraine would require "reliable security guarantees in [the] form of the Article 5-like NATO style."
On the critical issue of territorial integrity, Brusylo was unequivocal, ruling out any form of concession.
"It is impossible to think about any concessions because it will not be reasonable on our side, it will not be correct", he stated. He emphasised that recognising temporarily occupied territories as Russian, either de facto or de jure, is unacceptable. "We urge all the countries in the world not to do it", Brusylo said, warning that such a move would set a "dangerous precedent" encouraging other powerful nations to change borders by force.
Regarding the frozen Russian assets in Europe, the official argued they should be used in the interest of the victim.
He believes these funds should be held until Russia has paid full compensation for the damage inflicted on Ukraine. Only after reparations are complete could the money be returned.
Reaffirming Ukraine's position following a meeting with President Zelensky, Brusylo detailed the next steps for diplomacy.
"In any case, we are ready and reconfirm the availability for peace talks", he said, stressing Ukraine's desire to demonstrate it does not seek a prolonged war. "President Zelensky [is ready] to meet Putin in any format, in any place except Moscow, of course, to talk seriously about the need to stop this war", according to Brusylo.
Should Russia refuse serious negotiations, Brusylo stated that further pressure must be applied through sanctions designed to weaken the Russian economy and its capacity to produce "murderous weapons."
His comments come as Russian President Vladimir Putin recently expressed a willingness to talk, while simultaneously continuing to demand the cession of, among other things, the entire Donbas region.
