Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has emphasized the necessity of establishing a diplomatic dialogue with Russia before the onset of winter, contingent on increased pressure on Moscow. In an interview with CBS News, he noted that since December 2025, Russia has been losing its battlefield initiative, which he believes opens a potential window for negotiations.
“As of January 2026, I informed our American partners that I saw an opportunity for talks, as Russia loses more troops each month,” Zelensky stated. He pointed out that recent escalations in Russian attacks, particularly through missile strikes, are indicative of their declining position in the conflict.
Zelensky further elaborated that Russian forces are currently unable to occupy more territory within a month than what Ukrainian forces are reclaiming. He stressed the importance of finding a diplomatic route to peace, suggesting that discussions should take place before the next winter season. However, he acknowledged that this is heavily reliant on internal pressures on Russian President Vladimir Putin from his own populace, in addition to the sanctions imposed by the United States and Europe.
Last week, following a meeting with the ruling party faction, a member of parliament, Olga Vasylevska-Smahlyuk, reported that Zelensky had discussed potential pathways to conclude the active phase of the war. “A significant portion of the discussion focused on the prospects for ending the active phase of the conflict. The President indicated that there is a possibility of concluding this phase by November, provided security guarantees are established,” she stated.
On May 21, the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported that Ukrainian forces are regaining tactical initiative across various sections of the front line. Minister of Defense Mykhailo Fedorov also mentioned that Ukraine has significantly slowed the advance of Russian troops and is gradually regaining control on the battlefield, aided by factors such as the disabling of Starlink for the aggressor and an increase in medium-range drone strikes.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for diplomatic negotiations with Russia before winter, citing a shift in battlefield dynamics. He believes that increasing pressure on Moscow could facilitate discussions aimed at ending the conflict.