Mykhailo Podoliak, adviser to the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, reminded that Ukraine has never completely refused negotiations with Russia but has a clear condition - the withdrawal of Russian troops from the territory of Ukraine.

"Important: Ukraine has never refused to negotiate. Our negotiating position is known and open. First, Russia withdraws troops from Ukraine. After that comes everything else.

Is Putin ready? Obviously not. Therefore, we are constructive in our assessment: we will talk with the next leader of Russia," Podoliak wrote on Twitter.

Important: Ukraine has never refused to negotiate. Our negotiating position is known and open.

1. First, RF withdraws troops from 🇺🇦
2.After everything else

Is Putin ready? Obviously not. Therefore, we are constructive in our assessment: we will talk with the next leader of RF.

— Михайло Подоляк (@Podolyak_M) November 7, 2022

On September 30, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine was ready for negotiations with Russia but only with another president of the Russian Federation, not with Vladimir Putin. On that day, President Zelenskyy also put into effect the decision of the National Security and Defence Council about the impossibility of negotiating with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

On November 4, U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan named during a visit to Kyiv the Kremlin's conditions on a possible dialogue unacceptable since all talks must begin with the complete de-occupation of Ukraine.

At the same time, The Washington Post, citing its sources, reported that the Biden administration is privately encouraging Ukraine's leaders to signal an openness to negotiate with Russia and drop their public refusal to engage in peace talks.