Zelenskyy responded to the "win-win" framing in a CBC interview published on 16 September during his visit to Canada, saying the war's human losses made such an outcome impossible from the first day of the full-scale invasion.
The US and Ukraine are framing a possible end to the war differently. Washington has pushed for a negotiated settlement in which both sides could gain something, while Kyiv has rejected territorial concessions and pressed for security guarantees.
The US approach was to "think about things in the context of win-win" and "create opportunities for both sides," Jared Kushner told reporters after visiting Kyiv on 6 September alongside US special envoy Steve Witkoff, following a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
Zelenskyy argued that Russia's aims could not be reduced to a territorial claim.
"He has the biggest territory in the world and you need, I don't know, some kilometers. For what?" Zelenskyy said. "That's why it's very strange when some partners say, look, he needs just this part of Ukraine, just these kilometers and that's all. No, it's a crazy idea."
"No, he doesn't need kilometers. He needs Ukraine. He needs Ukraine to be a part of Russia," Zelenskyy said. "I know that this person wants to occupy totally us. And he will not change his goal. Never," he said.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine was ready for a ceasefire "without conditions" if Russia agreed—"just ceasefire and speak"—but added that any lasting peace required security guarantees to prevent another Russian attack.
Zelenskyy said he expects to meet US President Donald Trump in the second half of September, with the UN General Assembly in New York expected to provide an opportunity for the meeting.
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