Zelensky defines Ukraine’s red lines in negotiations

President Volodymyr Zelensky stated this during a joint press conference with Finnish President Alexander Stubb, a Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"The most important thing for Ukraine is not to lose the independence and sovereignty of our state. Russia must never again have influence over the independence of Ukrainians. … Even the territories that are temporarily occupied remain temporarily occupied. They will not become Russian," Zelensky declared.

The Ukrainian leader also stressed that he refuses to discuss the structure or size of Ukraine’s armed forces with the Russian side.

"I do not want to discuss with them what our armed forces should look like. That is part of the security guarantees for Ukrainians — not for Russians. This is also a key element of our independence, a just and guaranteed peace, and the assurance that the war will not return," he added.

Zelensky further emphasized that Ukraine has no intention of negotiating economic security guarantees with Russia.

"I do not intend to discuss economic security guarantees with them [the Russians]. The main economic security guarantee for Ukraine is the European Union. These are unconditional necessities for us. Thousands of people are in prisons. They all must be returned to their families. Those who were tortured must be brought home. And sadly, even those who were killed. These are non-negotiable issues," Zelensky stressed.

As reported by Ukrinform, on Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump held a phone conversation with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. The call lasted over an hour and a half.

The Trump administration announced that the Russian side agreed to a limited ceasefire targeting energy and infrastructure facilities in Ukraine as part of a U.S.-proposed peace initiative.

According to Steve Witkoff, the U.S. Special Envoy for the Middle East, delegations from the U.S. and Russia will hold a new round of ceasefire negotiations on Sunday, March 23, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.