Andriy Yermak: Ukraine is ready for any negotiation format on one condition — a complete ceasefire
The Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Andriy Yermak, expressed a clear position regarding the possibility of negotiations with Russia. According to him, the Ukrainian side does not oppose any diplomatic dialogue formats; however, the main condition for starting such a process is a full and unconditional ceasefire by the aggressor country. Yermak published this statement on his Telegram channel, where he also shared the key messages conveyed during his interview with the French newspaper Le Monde. “We are prepared for any dialogue format with Russia,” emphasized the Head of the Office of the President. “But our main and sole question is an unconditional ceasefire. We are not afraid of it because Ukraine has already demonstrated its openness and honesty in the pursuit of peace. Now, the ball is in Russia’s court. Is it capable of taking this important step? That will show its readiness to engage in genuine dialogue.” Yermak added that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will soon travel to Turkey, even if Russian leader Vladimir Putin refuses to have a personal meeting. “We continue our diplomatic efforts, and this visit is a clear signal to the global community: Moscow does not desire peace, it is not ready for constructive negotiations, and it obviously ignores the importance of diplomatic avenues for resolving the conflict,” he stressed. Regarding the role of the United States, Yermak expressed hope that Ukraine’s strategic partners will maintain their active involvement in the process of resolving the situation. “We are grateful to Steve Volkov for his constructive approach and understanding that the ceasefire itself must be the logical next step. He also gave high praise to U.S. President Donald Trump for his clear message: if Putin does not seek peace — Ukraine will get more than he imagines,” he emphasized. The Head of the Office of the President added that if Putin refuses to participate in a personal visit to Turkey, it should serve as a signal for decisive actions by Ukraine and the international community. Primarily, this involves ramping up sanctions — both American and European. Yermak calls for increasing pressure on Russia through new restrictions, particularly in the energy and financial sectors, which should seriously damage the Moscow regime. “30 days of silence is not a sign of military superiority but a chance to start a real dialogue process. It is an opportunity to establish delegations, ensure monitoring, and increase transparency. And it is precisely the United States that has the potential to take on this role,” he noted. Regarding defense issues, Yermak reported that Ukraine is actively negotiating with European allies on the purchase of air defense systems. “We already have some tangible results from our volunteer coalition, which helps strengthen our defensive capabilities,” he stated. For Ukraine, the main concerns are security guarantees and the possibility of quick accession to NATO. “Without this, there will be no real guarantees of our security and sovereignty. We will never allow Russia to have a veto over our future. This is our strategic decision, and it is your responsibility,” he concluded, calling on the international community to act decisively and urgently to protect Ukrainian interests and ensure peace in the region.