President Volodymyr Zelensky says Russia has been losing battlefield initiatives since late 2025 and argues that Ukraine is now entering a limited “window” for diplomacy before winter, as Moscow’s military gains stall and losses mount.
In an interview with CBS News, aired on Sunday, Zelensky said he first raised the assessment with US partners in January, warning that Russia’s position would continue to deteriorate month by month.
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“From December 2025, Russia began to lose initiative on the battlefield,” he said, adding that Russian forces were no longer able to hold or gain territory at a rate matching their losses.
He argued that this shift has prompted Russia to intensify long-range missile strikes, which he described as a reaction to setbacks on the front lines.
“Now we have this period of time before the winter,” Zelensky said, suggesting that Kyiv sees an opportunity for diplomatic engagement if sufficient pressure is applied on Moscow.
The president stressed that any negotiations depend on increased international pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin, particularly through expanded sanctions rather than easing restrictions.
He also pointed to a potential negotiating framework involving key European powers, naming the United Kingdom, France, and Germany as possible mediators, alongside Nordic countries and Turkey, which has previously facilitated prisoner exchanges between Kyiv and Moscow.
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Zelensky said he supports a broader diplomatic format but emphasized that its composition must be agreed jointly by Ukraine and Europe, and contingent on Russia’s willingness to engage in dialogue.
The Ukrainian leader also expressed expectation that US peace envoys, including Senator Marco Rubio-aligned envoy teams and White House-linked negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, would visit Kyiv in the coming weeks.
He said such visits would be important for US officials to witness conditions on the ground firsthand, arguing that previous engagements have largely taken place in Moscow.
“If they want to go to Moscow, they have to come to Kyiv first,” Zelensky said, framing the visit as essential for understanding Ukraine’s position and the human cost of the war.
Zelensky added that any diplomatic progress remains uncertain, noting that developments in other global conflicts, including the Middle East, could influence the pace of negotiations.
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