Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced his readiness to meet with Russian leader Vladimir Putin for talks on ending the conflict. He said this in an interview with CNN during the European strategic conference in Kyiv.

The Ukrainian leader stressed that the first condition for such talks should be a ceasefire. Zelensky believes that Putin is currently not ready for such a meeting, but if the Russian side wants to discuss territorial issues, he is ready for direct negotiations without intermediaries, albeit with the support of international partners.

On September 12, US President Donald Trump said that Zelensky did not agree to negotiate a settlement with Russia when the Kremlin was ready for them. At the same time, according to him, the Ukrainian president currently wants negotiations, but Moscow's consent is questionable.

On the same day, Politico wrote that European countries convinced Trump that Russia was not interested in ending the conflict in Ukraine. EU leaders assured the American leader that it was necessary to increase sanctions pressure on Moscow. The EU is completing preparations for the 19th package of sanctions against Russia, but for them to be effective, cooperation with Washington is important for states.