Direct Russia–Ukraine talks back on the table: a real path to peace, or a trap?
As Russia and Ukraine traded fresh strikes, Zelensky's European allies set out five conditions for peace talks and he signalled he would accept freezing the current front line as the 'quickest' route to ending the war. Kyiv and Europe frame it as a serious, guarantee-backed offer; Moscow keeps fighting and wants any deal on its own terms.
The summary above is a neutral framing. Below, each side reports the same story in its own words — judge for yourself.
Kyiv and its European backers say they are ready for direct talks — but only with firm security guarantees and on conditions they have spelled out. Zelensky has signalled he would accept freezing the war along the current line of contact as the fastest way to stop the killing, casting it as a genuine push for peace.
Even as the call for talks grows, Russia kept up its strikes — and Moscow wants any negotiation on its own terms, treating Kyiv's preconditions as obstacles rather than a basis for peace. Critics warn a freeze could simply lock in Russian gains and buy time to rearm.
