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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke Sunday with European Council President Antonio Costa, pressing for Europe to play a central role in any future peace talks with Russia while also advancing Kyiv's bid to join the European Union.
In a message posted to Telegram, Zelenskyy said the two leaders reviewed recent contacts with European and American officials focused on ending the war, now in its fourth year following Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.
The call covered a broad agenda, from the mechanics of potential negotiations to the timeline of Ukraine's accession process.
Zelenskyy was direct about his expectations for the shape of any future peace process. "We still see that Europe should be in the negotiations," he said, adding that the continent must have "a strong voice and presence" in any talks.
He also raised the question of representation, saying Europe itself should determine who would speak on its behalf at the negotiating table, a point that reflects lingering tensions over whether Washington or Brussels would drive a potential settlement framework.
Beyond the ceasefire diplomacy, Zelenskyy said Kyiv is prepared to open negotiation clusters with the European Union and that the two sides had discussed the timeline and coordination required to move the process forward.
Ukraine was granted EU candidate status in June 2022, and formal accession negotiations opened in 2024, a process that typically spans years and requires alignment across dozens of policy areas ranging from rule of law to trade and agriculture.
Zelenskyy closed by expressing gratitude to Costa and European leaders broadly for their sustained support for Ukraine and its population throughout the conflict.
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