Zelensky’s Assessment Darkens as Europeans Gather to Talk Peace

New York Times - WorldCenter-LeftEN 4 min read 100% complete by Andrew E. KramerJanuary 6, 2026 at 06:01 AM

AI Summary

long article 4 min

As European leaders gather in Paris to discuss postwar security guarantees for Ukraine, President Zelensky has expressed increasing skepticism about the ongoing peace negotiations with Russia. Despite months of talks, Zelensky stated that Russia's willingness to agree to a deal remains uncertain. He emphasized Ukraine's need to prepare for a potential continuation of the war, citing a lack of progress on key issues like territorial disputes and control of a Russian-occupied nuclear plant. Zelensky's change in tone follows a meeting with President Trump that yielded no breakthroughs and Russia's rejection of some Ukrainian proposals. He has also recently reshuffled his government to bolster Ukraine's resilience should negotiations fail.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Kyrylo Budanov 30% Paris 30% Venezuela 30% Marco Rubio 40% Nicolás Maduro (Maduro) 40% Donald Trump 50% Kyiv ×260% Europe ×260% United States ×370% Russia ×680% Volodymyr Zelensky ×790% Ukraine ×990%

Keywords

ukraine 100% volodymyr zelensky 90% russia 90% peace talks 90% war 80% negotiations 70% postwar security 60% security guarantees 60% european leaders 50% diplomatic efforts 40%