Zelensky calls for battlefield pause ahead of peace talks with Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for a pause on the battlefield as a starting point for negotiations to end the war with Russia, emphasizing the need for security guarantees and Ukraine's inclusion in any agreement. In an interview with Fox News, Zelensky described the pause as a ceasefire or a freezing of the conflict, calling it the minimum expected from Russia. He said he would then turn to President Donald Trump and European leaders for security guarantees, following a meeting with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, as well as leaders from Norway and Finland. Zelensky stressed that any peace negotiations must include Ukraine, stating, "do not talk about us without us." Relations between Washington and Kyiv remain tense, with Ukrainian authorities accusing the US of insufficient support and even suggesting assistance to Moscow in a diesel supply deal. Kyiv also alleged Washington deliberately reduced the performance of SpaceX's Starshield communication system, vital for Ukrainian military communications, which Zelensky said remains "limited," though US Secretary of State Marco Rubio promised to address the issue. Nearly five years after the conflict began in February 2022, the front line remains static, and US-mediated talks have yet to yield progress.