'Nothing to discuss from weak position': Zelenskyy names conditions for Ukraine-Russia talks

He said this in an interview with Ukrainian Radio.

When asked under what conditions negotiations between Ukraine and Russia are possible, as Trump has been advocating in his statements, Zelenskyy replied: "Provided that Ukraine is not alone with Russia, that it is strong. What kind of negotiations can we have with a murderer? If we are talking just with Putin, just with a murderer in the conditions we have now, without strengthening some important elements, this is a losing status for Ukraine at the entrance. In a weak position, there is nothing to do in these negotiations.”

He emphasized that President Trump's position is important, as well as America's attitude toward Ukraine. Zelenskyy is convinced that the United States must maintain its position that Russia is an aggressor, that it has violated our territorial integrity and international law.

"This is one of the points that is important for any negotiation platform. There should also be elements of our Victory Plan. For us, victory means a strong Ukraine. Whether in diplomacy or on the battlefield is the second issue. The first is a strong Ukraine. It must be strong for any diplomacy," the president said.

Zelenskyy also commented on Trump's messages that under his presidency he would force the parties to the negotiating table.

"I don't think he's saying that. We are an independent country. It seems that our people and I personally, in negotiations with Trump, Biden, and European leaders, have proven that the rhetoric of "sit down and listen" does not work with us. That's how we should treat any country - with respect. It's about equality - one of the values we are fighting for," Volodymyr Zelenskyy replied, adding that there was no such rhetoric during his conversation with the newly elected U.S. president.

Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for the bipartisan support, but noted that Ukraine has not yet received half of the promised aid: "This is an important element when we talk about how and who is helping us. I mean, Europe has helped no less.”

"The task now is to preserve the unity between Europe and the United States. Because if American policy changes, the strength of unity in Europe will also change. Will this affect the increase in aid? No, it can only affect its reduction," the president emphasized.

He was asked how Trump was going to bring Putin to the negotiating table. However, Zelenskyy said that Putin does not want peace, but this does not mean that he does not want to sit down with any of the leaders.

"For him (Putin - ed.), this is the destruction of political isolation. It is beneficial for him to sit down and talk. And not to negotiate - I would say so. It is beneficial for him to negotiate on some kind of surrender terms on our part. But who will give him that... No one will," Zelenskyy assured.

Trump's team voiced many versions of how the talks between Ukraine and Russia could end and what the "red lines" on Ukraine's part might be. However, Zelenskyy emphasized that as president of Ukraine, he would only take a conversation with the U.S. president seriously.

"With all due respect to any environment. I think that according to American law, while he (Donald Trump - ed.) has not yet been inaugurated and cannot participate in all geopolitical processes, we should put an end to something. Our teams will work on a meaningful meeting. I will be able to speak about certain lines, how the United States sees it, how we respond to their vision, after a substantive meeting with President Trump, when he will have all his powers," the president of Ukraine summarized.

• Oleksandr Kovalenko, a military and political observer with the Information Resistance group, believes that Putin will never agree to Donald Trump's plan to freeze the conflict along the current front line.