Zelensky administration says they ‘never refused’ to negotiate with Russia — rather they would only do so after Russian troops withdraw from Ukraine

Ukraine has never refused to negotiate with Russia, says presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak.

Podolyak tweeted that Ukraine’s position is “known and open. 1. First RF withdraws troops from Ukraine 2. After everything else. Is Putin ready? Obviously not. Therefore, we are constructive in our assessment: we will talk with the next leader of RF.”

The Washington Post wrote on November 6 that Washington had asked Kyiv to publicly demonstrate its readiness to negotiate with Moscow in order not to lose the support of countries whose residents may be worried about the prospect of a prolonged war. Italy’s La Repubblica, citing NATO sources, wrote on November 7 that the U.S. admits that Ukraine may start negotiations after regaining control over Kherson.

In October, shortly after Russia announced its annexation of four Ukrainian regions, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree stating that “negotiations with Russian president Vladimir Putin were impossible.”