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Automatically translated version. May contain inaccuracies compared to the original.
President Volodymyr Zelensky 27 in October held a meeting with journalists. The conversation took place shortly after talks with the American special representative and the leaders of Finland and Norway in Oslo, and ahead of a new round of negotiations of the Ukrainian, U.S., and Russian technical teams in the UAE.
We gathered the main points from the president’s answers on the demand to hold elections and Ukraine’s conditions for it, personnel issues, difficult relations with the United States, Kyiv’s preparations for winter, and Ukrainian defense operations.
President Volodymyr Zelensky
On relations with the United States
The United States resumed sharing intelligence with Ukraine. The supply of missiles for Patriot, paid for by European partners, is happening at a rate of 12 units per month. At the same time, Defense Minister Pɪt Gaitsset still has not signed some documents that Ukraine is counting on. There is a shortage of missiles not only for Patriot systems but also for NASAMS, which shoot down cruise missiles and aircraft.
“This is a question broader than just missiles for ‘Patriots.’ It’s about a significant deficit of ‘nasams’—they are also part of the package we were waiting for from the United States, paid for by Europeans, since this is all within the PURL program. Partially under PURL, the United States has sent us some. Therefore we are very grateful to our partners,” the president said.
Commenting on SpaceX owner Elon Musk’s accusation of using Starlink against Russians, the president stressed that this communications system has been used only for strikes on occupied territory, not against Russia.
"We are defending ourselves against those who came to kill our people on our land. But we also use it mainly for logistics—to provide food and water to our people. And, of course, we began using it against ‘Shahed’ drones and missiles. Our ‘Bars’ were the first long-range interceptor, because we already had a ‘Bars’ as a long‑range strike drone. We found a European country. They paid for 2000 units. I knew we had 2000. I said: ‘Let’s check. Maybe it can destroy targets.’ They checked, and it destroyed a Shahed. We were very happy. And then Starshield stopped working. That’s it. So I don’t know exactly who told SpaceX to do this. Maybe it was their own internal decision. I don’t know who makes the decision. If it’s SpaceX, then maybe Elon. But if it’s someone from the government—I don’t know. I don’t have that information. I only know that technically SpaceX turns these systems on and off,” he said.
On elections
Zelensky says he is calm about Donald Trump’s statements about the need to hold elections in Ukraine.
“Freedom of speech isn’t only in Ukraine; in America as well. President Trump may say what he wants, personally about me, but not about Ukraine. When he says something about Ukraine, I respond, because I have a responsibility to defend our state,” he said.
At the same time, the president recalled that holding elections is impossible without resolving security issues. Ukraine thus demands a ceasefire for a definite period.
“The challenges have existed and continue to exist. How can a uniformed serviceman vote? How can a person vote in temporarily occupied territory? How can millions abroad vote? How to vote under rocket and ballistic attacks? How to vote under massive Shahed and ballistic strikes? All these questions need answers. In my view, the law, the Constitution, and logic answer them. Today it is impossible to vote under all these challenges,” Zelensky stated.
On negotiations
Ukraine expects a meeting of the U.S. and Russia technical teams in early November in Abu Dhabi. It would like this meeting to take place before the leaders of China, the United States, and Russia meet at the summit.
Initially another meeting in Brussels was planned. Participants were to be Ukraine, EU leaders, NATO secretary-general, and the United States. But the American side changed the plans.
“Today Abu Dhabi depends on the American side. Because everyone said they view such a format of the meeting positively. For the United States, the main focus is the Middle East. Therefore, changes of various kinds, including potential political changes in some states, will affect what unfolds in the Middle East. There may be escalation, and many speak about this. I think there will be,” the president said.
Answering LB’s question about the composition of the negotiating group, the president said he has no alternative to the current participants, but is open to changes.
“So far I don’t have an alternative group. There is a group approved by me that works and knows all the national security advisors of other countries with whom they discuss questions of the diplomatic process, security guarantees, economics, etc. It’s a big daily job. I’m always open if there are people who work on these issues who could be alternatives. In the media you often hear politicians and diplomats who supposedly know how to end the war. Especially with great experience— 20-30 years. I’m very open, honestly,” the head of state assured.
On Europe’s involvement in the diplomatic process
Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre consulted with Ukraine before calling Vladimir Putin. After the call, they contacted the Ukrainian president again and spoke about the substance of the talks.
“They want to take a bigger part. I am positive about these leaders and these countries—we’re grateful to them. We are on a long road and we’re traveling it together. I understand the format of their communication,” Zelensky commented.
The talks with Putin by Stubb and Støre were not on behalf of all Europe, but as leaders of neighboring countries to Russia. Ukraine would like the European Union to take full part in the negotiating process, because there are issues that directly concern it. These are security guarantees and Ukraine’s postwar reconstruction.
After Trump and Putin’s meeting in Alaska, Russia’s diplomatic isolation ended, and European countries held negotiations with Russians at various levels. Some openly, some confidentially.
President Volodymyr Zelensky during a press briefing
On security guarantees and possible options
“There are several formats of security guarantees we are discussing: in some cases Europe is involved, and in some it is not. The first format is bilateral security guarantees of the United States for Ukraine. Here we are talking about an Article 5-like guarantees system. The second format is a Coalition of the willing with a U.S. backstop. This format cannot be discussed without Europe. The third option is NATO. And this cannot be discussed without Europe—the Europe that is part of the Alliance,” the president said.
On Russia’s demands
Moscow also demands security guarantees, and it is possible that it really intends to push NATO’s borders further.
“And Russia raises the same question—that they also need security guarantees... Russia is not the first to raise the issue of security guarantees in one form or another as they see it. They say: ‘If you want security guarantees for Ukraine, then we want them for Russia.’ It is necessary to understand what sense Russia assigns to this. It is not just about Ukraine not striking at them. For them this is a much broader and more specific issue. They want their treaty with NATO or with the United States as a fundamental participant in NATO,” Zelensky said.
Also Russia continues to link the possibility of signing a peace treaty with the issue of territory.
“From the outset of the ‘28-point plan,’ there was one alternative proposal from the American side—demilitarized zones. After that, documents discussed it differently. What will happen with ZNPP? What will happen with some territories the Americans proposed resolving in a ‘land swap’ format? Then there was the Donbas question, a proposal to create a buffer zone or a demilitarized zone on both sides of the front line. As a compromise, we were ready to discuss this. Also Kinburn spit: they proposed making one part demilitarized, which could be under Ukraine’s control. All these issues are territorial matters,” Zelensky said, stressing that they can only be discussed at the leaders’ level.
On U.S.-Russia relations
Russia is not an ally of the United States, but it is an ally of Trump, only so that he does not apply strong sanctions against it.
“I think the United States discusses with Russia the topic of Iran—what Russia can do for this. It is not by chance that recently the rhetoric of the U.S. President sounds as if Russia, if it helped Iran, did so very little. I think this is an excuse by Russia. Why is the American President doing this? Maybe because he wants Russia to help America more? I don’t know. But it seems so. The fact that Russia helps Iran is a fact,” Zelensky said.
Zelensky does not know what will be discussed at the Putin-Trump-Xi summit, but is confident that this meeting is most needed by Russia, and least by China.
President Volodymyr Zelensky
On the impact of the war in the Middle East on Ukraine
The war in the Middle East is harming the whole world. The cause of energy challenges across the globe is only the Hormuz Strait, and everyone acknowledges this, the president said.
However, for Ukraine the war in the Middle East has another impact—that is, a decrease in weapons supply.
“The entire 2026-year Ukraine has been receiving from the United States 12 missiles for ‘Patriots’ per month. As this year ends, I can speak about it openly. Moreover, everyone has already understood—given the number of interceptions, which is, unfortunately, small. Undoubtedly, my agreements with other countries influenced the number of Patriot missiles Ukraine received. But from America we were receiving 12 missiles per month. The reason is the Middle East. And imagine: you can count on 150 missiles per year from America, while having to intercept 150 ballistic missiles per month. I think this answers many questions. I am openly saying this at a moment when I understand: we want the Americans to start signing with countries we strike agreements with a capability to supply anti-ballistics—interceptor missiles—to Ukraine,” Zelensky said.
On strikes on oil refineries
Ukraine suspended attacks on Russian oil refining for three days. But Russia did not stop strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, so now there are no limits.
“We were really repeatedly approached with a signal not to strike Russian refineries. We said: ‘Let’s work on de-escalation of energy issues.’ Then the U.S. President came out with a public stance on an energy truce in Truth Social. We supported it, and after that we did not respond to strikes on Russian refineries for three days, while Russia attacked our energy sector. I said: ‘Let’s at least 72 hours respond calmly to other targets. Do not touch refineries.’ It didn’t help. There was different rhetoric. And no one thanked us for these three days. Regarding other refinery responses: during those days our guys probably tried to be a bit more careful. But they do not have an order not to respond,” he said.
On humanitarian truce in Olenivka
Ukraine asked Americans to come to Olenivka with journalists, because trust in Russia cannot be guaranteed.
“We are grateful that they (the United States) are organizing such an opportunity to evacuate people. I don’t know which side people will choose. Of course, from Olenivka it is easier to move deeper into temporarily occupied Ukrainian territory. But I also know that there are many people there who want to leave to Ukrainian-controlled territory. I know how technically evacuation to Ukraine can take place, but I don’t know how it will really be. This is what our people, the military and intelligence, told me. And, of course, they have all the information about what to do and how to communicate with each other. We will give a few days for this, and we will see the result,” Zelensky said.
President Volodymyr Zelensky during a press briefing
On personnel and Kyiv
Zelensky is not satisfied with Kyiv’s winter readiness, but his view of Vitali Klitschko is not personal. The president would like the mayor to choose his own advisers, but he does not, and attempts to strengthen Kyiv’s team are seen as attempts to replace him.
“Because as soon as we discuss with some managers how to strengthen Kyiv, the mayor gets the impression that someone wants to replace him. When you approach people with a request for help, they say: ‘No, thank you. We have seen, we have heard. Let the person handle it. He has responsibility—let him answer,’” Zelensky said.
The president said he discussed the post of head of Kyiv City Military Administration with different people, and all refused.
“I asked the Prime Minister to assemble a special cabinet for Kyiv—business managers, strong people. I’m ready to personally talk with whoever they name and ask me to. Create such a cabinet and work out decisions. I will do what I can. I wanted to involve Maluk (former SBU head) in the security context. I also spoke with Kubrakov (former infrastructure minister), Groysman (former prime minister). Sukhomlin (former mayor of Zhytomyr and former head of the Recovery Agency) refused—once he heard about Kyiv. I spoke with business people, with others in public administration. No one wants to be involved, because then no one will say thank you, and others will always talk about politics,” the president noted.
The president also spoke about who he discussed appointing as ambassador to the United States with. Conversations were held with former Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, former Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, and colonel and deputy head of the Office of the President Pavlo Palisa.
“We discussed candidates Yulia Svyrydenko, Dmytro Kuleba, Pavlo Palisa, because he has an American education, language skills, a lot of work is needed on military issues, and Trump knows him. Palisa would be a good ambassador, but he doesn’t want to. He said: ‘Take me back to the front immediately. I won’t go anywhere from Ukraine.’ We will continue consultations on this,” the president commented.
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