Volodymyr Zelensky has stated his belief that a deal to end Russia’s war in Ukraine could be made under Donald Trump’s presidency but demanded Kyiv be included in any peace talks.The Ukrainian president also said on Saturday that the terms of any deal that might arise under the new US president were still unclear – and might not even be clear to Trump himself – because Vladimir Putin had no interest in ending the war.

Putin referred to a decree Zelensky signed in September 2022 that declared negotiations with Moscow impossible after Russia said it had annexed four Ukrainian regions, which it still does not fully control. Putin said the decree showed Ukraine was not interested in peace negotiations and would nullify any agreement made unless it was revoked.