Zelensky claims that Putin seeks negotiations to lift sanctions imposed on Russia.

He stated this in an interview with NBC News.

According to Zelensky, Putin’s goal in participating in the negotiations is not to end the war, but to reach a ceasefire agreement. This, he claims, would help lift international sanctions from Russia and allow it to regroup.

“This is really what he wants. He wants to take a pause, prepare, train, lift some sanctions due to the ceasefire, and so on,” the Ukrainian president believes.

He also mentioned that Ukraine will find it “very, very, very difficult” to survive without military assistance from the U.S., not only now but also after the war ends.

“But we will have very little chance, very little chance to survive without the support of the United States. I think this is very important, critically important. I don’t want to think about fighting Russia without American support,” Zelensky stated.

It is worth noting that he has made similar statements before. Last year, just a few weeks after the U.S. presidential elections, Zelensky said that Ukraine is losing the war against Russia if the United States decides to provide less assistance.

Furthermore, he expressed his willingness to personally sit down for negotiations with the Russian leader Vladimir Putin if that were the only option for achieving peace, although he labeled him a criminal, stating that talks with him are a “compromise for the civilized world.”

Putin's spokesperson mentioned that he is willing to talk to Zelensky, despite the fact that they refer to him as “illegitimate”.