quot;: Zelensky spoke about Putin » src=»/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/f87deb8589fee415d2be76bd144d9d7d.jpg» alt=»"Afraid of negotiations because he can't admit defeat": Zelensky spoke about Putin» width=»100%» />
Zelensky on Putin: afraid of negotiations because he can't admit defeat. The Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is fearful of direct negotiations with Ukraine. He believes that this would signify his defeat. This was stated in an interview with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for Associated Press.
According to him, the Russians do not want to end the war fairly, and Putin will fear direct negotiations.
I think that in his mind — this is his defeat, his weakness, he will be afraid of this. Therefore, he will do everything to show that this (his old narratives) is a war between the West and Russia. He cannot admit that he has not truly defeated Ukraine, which means he is losing. And he cannot acknowledge this.
Thus, in his opinion, Putin sends "desperate signals" that he wants to talk to U.S. President Donald Trump. However, negotiations behind Ukraine's back will not lead to results, and Zelensky wants Trump to engage with Putin only after Kyiv and Washington agree on specific steps to end the war.
Zelensky also believes that when Trump states that Ukraine should be at the negotiating table, Putin will seek excuses — dragging his feet and "telling a story about illegitimacy".
The Reuters agency reported the day before that Trump is considering a ceasefire in Ukraine and holding elections as early as this year.