Zelenskyy to Trump: Freezing the war is dangerous, and negotiations with Putin will take place only on Ukraine’s terms.

Newly elected US President Donald Trump knows that Ukraine does not want to surrender and freeze the war, President Zelenskyy said, commenting on the negotiations with Trump in Paris.

“We are not going to give up our independence. The danger would be to say: We will freeze the war and come to an agreement with the Russians,” the president noted.

The Ukrainian president added that Trump wants to move quickly to resolve the war, but he does not yet have access to all of the necessary information regarding the conflict.

Zelenskyy also emphasized that Kyiv is not weak despite the difficult situation on the front and the risk of reduced Western support. Readiness for negotiations with Putin will depend on clear conditions and a peace plan. Conducting talks with Putin without clear international guarantees would mean allowing Russia to decide the fate of other states in the region.

The president emphasized that the international community must continue to pressure Russia to create conditions for a productive dialogue. Ukraine’s negotiating position is not strong enough currently, given the uncertainty regarding EU and NATO membership.