President Volodymyr Zelensky has sent a clear message to U.S. President Donald Trump: Kyiv will not agree to a "bad deal" for the sake of ending the war quickly. Although hostilities have now dragged on for four years, the Ukrainian leader remains ready to continue the fight if the proposed peace terms are unacceptable.
According to Hvylya, this stance was detailed in a comprehensive report by The Atlantic, following a meeting with Zelensky in Kyiv.
Journalist Simon Shuster notes that Zelensky is attempting to convey a pragmatic argument to Trump: ending the war in Ukraine could serve as a major political asset for Republicans ahead of the U.S. midterm elections. "For his legacy, it's number one. The best situation for Trump is to do it before the election," the President stated.
However, anxiety is mounting within Zelensky's circle that the "window of opportunity" for a deal is closing. If an agreement is not reached this spring, Ukraine could face years of grinding combat. Despite this pressure, Zelensky remains categorical: "We are in a hurry to end the war. But that is not the same as rushing to make a deal at any price."
Insiders: Budanov Replaces Yermak
The report reveals sensational details regarding the internal dynamics of the Presidential Office as of February 2026. The chief negotiator for Ukraine is now Kyrylo Budanov, who has replaced Andriy Yermak as Head of the Presidential Office. Yermak was dismissed late last year amidst a corruption investigation and pressure from the United States.
Sources indicate that Budanov has demonstrated greater flexibility in negotiations than his predecessor. His team, which is conducting closed-door meetings with Russian representatives (specifically in Abu Dhabi), is considering "creative solutions" regarding territorial issues. Discussions reportedly include the possibility of withdrawing troops from certain parts of the Donetsk region without formally recognizing their loss.
Ukraine has effectively dropped its demand for a war crimes tribunal for Putin and is prepared for a summit "anywhere but Moscow."
Elections and Referendum
To legitimize potential difficult compromises, officials are considering a scenario involving a referendum on the peace deal held simultaneously with presidential elections in the spring of 2026.
"We are not afraid of anything. Are we ready for elections? We are ready. Are we ready for a referendum? We are ready," Zelensky assured, adding that the push for wartime elections originates from the Russians "because they want to get rid of me."
However, the President emphasized that he would not submit a guaranteed failure to a vote: "I don't think we should take a bad deal to a referendum."
Frontline Situation and Casualties
The war has reached a stalemate, although Ukraine is effectively utilizing drones to plug gaps in its defense. Russian forces have spent two years unsuccessfully attempting to fully capture Pokrovsk. According to CSIS estimates, total casualties on both sides (killed and wounded) will reach 2 million by this spring.
Ukraine's new Minister of Defense, Mykhailo Fedorov (who replaced Rustem Umerov), has announced a strategy aimed at inflicting 50,000 monthly casualties on the Russian Federation to drain Moscow's mobilization resources.
Main Hurdle: Security Guarantees
The key obstacle remains security guarantees from the United States. Zelensky is demanding a clear answer: will Americans shoot down missiles over Ukraine if a truce is violated? So far, Washington's response remains vague.
"It's not fixed yet. We raised this question and we will continue to raise it," Zelensky concluded, acknowledging that without ironclad guarantees, any ceasefire would merely serve as a pause before a new invasion.
