
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed his willingness to engage in direct negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin if it is the only viable path to securing peace and preventing further loss of life in Ukraine.
In an interview with British broadcaster Piers Morgan, Zelensky acknowledged that personal animosity between the two leaders is secondary to the broader objective of ending the war.
While he considers Putin an adversary, he stressed that his primary focus remains safeguarding Ukraine’s citizens.
Zelensky also disclosed the staggering human cost of the ongoing war, revealing that Ukraine has suffered 45,100 military casualties since Russia’s full-scale invasion began.
Additionally, approximately 390,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been wounded, with many sustaining multiple injuries. On the Russian side, he estimated that roughly 350,000 soldiers have been killed, with another 600,000 to 700,000 wounded.
According to Zelensky, Russia’s inferior battlefield medical care has resulted in a higher fatality rate among its troops. He also noted that between 50,000 and 70,000 Russian soldiers are currently missing in action.
Meanwhile, former U.S. President Donald Trump has offered significantly higher casualty estimates, asserting that around 700,000 Ukrainian soldiers and at least 800,000 Russian troops have died in the conflict.
Speaking at a press conference alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump described the devastation in Ukraine as being on par with, or worse than, the destruction seen in Gaza.
He reiterated his intention to bring the war to an end and claimed that the U.S. is engaged in “very constructive talks” with both Russia and Ukraine.
However, he did not specify whether these discussions involve a potential Russian withdrawal from occupied Ukrainian territories.
Addressing Ukraine’s NATO ambitions, Zelensky suggested that if the United States is unwilling to expedite Ukraine’s membership in the alliance, alternative security guarantees should be considered—including the provision of nuclear weapons.
He pointed out that Ukraine’s path to NATO remains uncertain and could take decades, raising concerns about how the country is expected to defend itself in the meantime.
If NATO membership remains unattainable, he argued, then Western allies should supply deterrent missile systems or even nuclear weapons.
He also proposed that allied military forces be stationed in parts of Ukraine to stabilize the situation and reassure civilians.
Zelensky further contended that if Russia’s invasion was driven by fears of Ukraine joining NATO, then Moscow should withdraw its forces now that Kyiv remains outside the alliance.
He emphasized that Ukraine cannot recognize the occupied territories as Russian, as doing so would violate the country’s constitution.
He reiterated that his 2022 decree banning negotiations with Putin was designed to prevent separatist movements and ensure that all diplomatic efforts remained under the control of Ukraine’s leadership.
Despite this, he signaled openness to talks if they could lead to a genuine resolution that preserves Ukraine’s sovereignty and prevents further bloodshed.
As the war continues with no immediate resolution in sight, Zelensky’s remarks highlight both the staggering toll of the conflict and the growing urgency for a diplomatic breakthrough.
Whether such negotiations materialize remains to be seen, but Ukraine’s leader has made it clear that peace, not personal rivalries, must take precedence.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members