Ukraine faces growing calls from several states to negotiate with Russia to end the armed conflict. Strana.ua quotes journalist Vadym Karpyak in an interview with Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba, highlighting this shift in discussion streets. The minister insisted that the government would pursue every option within international and criminal law to ensure these voices remain heard, even as they come from outside official channels. A New York Times report from early August noted growing pressure from allied partners on Kyiv to pursue a diplomatic path with the Russian Federation. On Wednesday, President Zelenskiy told his diplomats that the coming months would bring greater pressure to find entry points for peace talks.
Kuleba described autumn as a period of heavy political strain for Kyiv and signaled plans to participate in multiple summits. He stressed the need for a robust presence not only from the United States and European allies but from the wider international community to support Ukraine’s stance.
Under what conditions is Kyiv ready to negotiate?
Kuleba spoke to an Italian newspaper a few days earlier, stating that Kyiv could begin negotiations with Russia through an intermediary once Russian forces withdraw from Ukrainian territory. He also indicated readiness to engage in talks with President Vladimir Putin directly following a full troop withdrawal. The minister stressed that Ukraine would continue to employ both military and diplomatic means to achieve its goals. He dismissed the idea of a direct meeting between Zelenskiy and Putin at the same negotiating table and expressed reservations about Vatican mediation, while acknowledging the constructive roles played by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in aiding the grain agreement process.
What is the grain deal?
The grain agreement coordinates the export of grain and other agricultural products from Black Sea ports in Ukraine and Russia, with Turkey and the United Nations acting as guarantors. The deal, signed on July 22, 2022, also included assurances that ships carrying grain would be free of ammunition and weapons, and it created a framework for lifting restrictions on Russian agricultural exports and fertilizers as part of a broader memorandum with the UN. The contract was set for an initial 120 days, with the possibility of extension. Russia later signaled a willingness to suspend participation, and the last shipment permitted under the pact departed from Odessa on July 16 as the agreement neared its end of term. The exchanges around the grain corridor highlighted how humanitarian concerns intersect with broader strategic aims in the conflict.
Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State, indicated earlier this week that no peace talks were currently active between Moscow and Kyiv. He noted that Moscow had shown little interest in restarting formal negotiations. Following Ukraine’s move to cease formal talks last May, President Zelenskiy issued a decree in October stating that negotiations could not proceed while Russian leadership remained in the presidency, reflecting Kyiv’s insistence on the withdrawal of Russian troops before any enduring diplomatic process could resume. Kyiv’s leadership argues that peacemaking cannot proceed without such a withdrawal, warning that any outcome short of this would leave the conflict frozen rather than resolved.
Views from Russia on negotiations
At the close of June, Dmitry Peskov, the Russian presidential press secretary, stated that there were no prerequisites for negotiations and that a peaceful end to the conflict would not be possible under Kyiv’s current stance toward talks with Moscow. He added that any peace initiative would need to reflect Moscow’s view of territorial control over regions such as Donetsk and Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia. In early August, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Moscow remained open to negotiations and willing to consider serious proposals. President Vladimir Putin has also voiced a willingness to explore options for a peaceful resolution but asserted that Kyiv had previously rejected dialogue, placing the onus for moving forward on Ukraine. The situation remains contingent on Kyiv’s choices and the evolving dynamics on the ground.