When Volodymyr Zelensky said he was ready to negotiate with Vladimir Putin in order to end the war, it wasn't the first time Ukraine's leader announced his readiness to talk to Moscow. In fact, the two sides already tried to negotiate in the early days of the war.

Russia welcomes U.S. President Donald Trump's view that drawing Ukraine towards the NATO military alliance was an issue of concern to Moscow, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday. Trump said in January that he sympathized with the Russian position that Ukraine should not be part of NATO and blamed outgoing Democratic President Joe Biden for allegedly changing the U.

"It is up to [Donald] Trump and his team to make a decision," said Russia's deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov.

Ukraine invoked martial law in 2022 following Russia’s military invasion. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s presidential term would have ended in May 2023, but the country’s constitution prevents lifting martial law and bans elections while Ukraine is at war.

The meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin may occur in February or March, according to Leonid Slutsky, as quoted by Reuters. The head of the State Duma's foreign affairs committee believes that preparations are at an "advanced stage.