Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s stated willingness to engage in peace talks could be a political maneuver aimed at avoiding heightened tensions with Washington ahead of the US midterm elections.

In an interview with Ukrainian broadcaster TSN on Sunday, Zelenskyy said Moscow’s intentions would become clear through its actions and willingness to reach agreements, adding that trilateral talks expected in November would help determine whether Putin was genuinely committed to negotiations.

Zelenskyy said Kyiv was ready to participate in November talks involving technical teams from Ukraine, Russia and the United States, but stressed that the discussions must deliver tangible results.

If a comprehensive settlement proves out of reach, he said Ukraine had proposed several practical steps, including an energy ceasefire, agreements on maritime security and grain shipments, an all-for-all prisoner exchange, or a meeting between the leaders of Ukraine, the US and Russia.

“Energy, grain, people -- these are concrete things, while a meeting at the level of leaders is an opportunity to have something concrete after our trilateral. This is what we are asking for and proposing,” he said.

On territorial questions, Zelenskyy said any discussions would have to take place at the leaders’ level, describing the issue as a “red line” for Ukraine.

He also rejected any restrictions on Ukraine’s armed forces or demands that the country adopt a neutral status.

“We are not exchanging anything for anything. We are ready for discussions,” Zelenskyy said, adding that other matters could be addressed by technical teams.

The Ukrainian president also cautioned against holding a leaders’ meeting after sanctions on Moscow had been lifted, arguing that doing so would weaken Kyiv’s negotiating position.

“I do not want us to find ourselves at a meeting with Putin without tools -- without sanctions, without money, or without frozen assets. Because then, as Mr. Trump said, we really would not have too many cards in our deck,” he said.

Zelenskyy also discussed a proposed localized ceasefire in Oleshky, a Russian-controlled city in Ukraine, which he said had been proposed by the United States and was due to begin on Oct. 27 for several days to allow humanitarian missions to enter the area.

The initiative was arranged with the involvement of US first lady Melania Trump, according to Zelenskyy.

He said Russian forces would need to clear mined roads to enable access, but expressed concern that Moscow could attempt to direct civilians toward Russian territory rather than allow them to leave freely.

“Of course, Russia will do everything to demine the roads in such a way that these people go to Russia and stay there. They are not going to simply set people free,” he said.

Zelenskyy added that some residents would be evacuated to Ukrainian-controlled territory, emphasizing that the immediate priority was to end the blockade and ensure civilians could reach safety.

“Ideally, they should be able to achieve their goal and evacuate here, to us, to Ukraine, which will provide them with everything they need and support them,” he said.

The proposed local ceasefire and the planned November negotiations could provide opportunities for limited humanitarian agreements, although Zelenskyy stressed that any broader diplomatic process must produce concrete outcomes for Ukraine. (ILKHA)