Feb 12 - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Kyiv had chosen to endorse U.S. proposals aimed at ending the conflict with Russia as President Donald Trump seeks a resolution before November mid-term elections. In an interview published by The Atlantic on Thursday, Zelenskiy described the decision as a tactical move to make clear to Washington that Kyiv did not want to be seen as obstructing progress.
"The tactic we chose is for the Americans not to think that we want to continue the war," Zelenskiy told the U.S.-based publication. "That’s why we started supporting their proposals in any format that speeds things along." He added that Ukraine is "not afraid of anything" and stressed readiness to proceed with political steps if conditions are met. "Are we ready for elections? We’re ready. Are we ready for a referendum? We’re ready."
Zelenskiy said Kyiv would not accept a settlement that was detrimental to Ukraine’s interests. He reiterated that a ceasefire and U.S. security guarantees against a future invasion had not yet been finalized. "No one is clinging to power," the interview quoted him as saying. "I am ready for elections. But for that we need security, guarantees of security, a cease-fire." He also warned against putting what he described as an unacceptable deal to a public vote: "I don’t think we should put a bad deal up for a referendum."
The president said he had declined a proposal, reported this week by the Financial Times, to hold votes on February 24, the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion. Zelenskiy has sought to maintain constructive ties with Washington since an Oval Office meeting in February 2025 that he said had turned into a shouting match with President Trump and U.S. Vice President JD Vance.
On security guarantees, Zelenskiy said a document delineating protections for Ukraine was nearly ready to be signed but that significant details remained unresolved. He drew attention to one particularly sensitive provision - whether the United States would be willing to shoot down incoming missiles over Ukrainian territory if Russia violated a ceasefire. "This hasn’t been fixed yet," he said. "We have raised it, and we will continue to raise these questions...We need all of this to be written out."
Zelenskiy’s remarks come as Washington presses for a deal that could alter the course of the conflict before U.S. national elections in November. He framed Kyiv’s public backing of U.S. proposals as an effort to accelerate negotiations, while making clear there are red lines Kyiv will not cross if a proposed accord undermines Ukraine’s security or sovereignty.
Context and implications
The president’s comments outline a negotiating stance that balances political readiness with insistence on enforceable security arrangements. Zelenskiy emphasizes that Ukraine is prepared to accept domestic democratic processes - presidential elections and a referendum - but only if accompanied by verifiable guarantees and a durable ceasefire. At the same time, he signaled caution about specific operational clauses that remain to be agreed.