This statement was made in an interview broadcast on Sunday, following his arrival in Ayia Napa, Cyprus, on April 23, 2026, to attend an informal summit of European leaders.

Peace talks brokered by the United States have stalled as Washington has focused on the conflict in Iran. Zelenskiy and other Ukrainian officials have noted that the advance of Russian forces has slowed on the ground. Concurrently, Ukraine has intensified a campaign of medium- and long-range strikes inside Russia, primarily targeting the nation's oil industry.

"It began in December 2025, Russia began to lose the initiative on the battlefield," Zelenskiy stated on CBS Television's 'Face the Nation'. "So now we have this period of time before the winter... before the winter we need to find a way, diplomatic way, to sit and to speak." He added that the situation depends on the pressure exerted on Russian President Vladimir Putin and his society, advocating for the continuation and intensification of sanctions rather than their removal.

Zelenskiy acknowledged the possibility of negotiations organized with European assistance or through bilateral talks with Russia, reiterating his call for stricter sanctions. A senior Ukrainian commander, Brigadier General Andriy Biletsky, who commands Ukraine's Third Army Corps, stated in a recent interview that Ukraine possesses a six-month window to seize the battlefield initiative and strengthen its position for peace talks. Biletsky expressed the view that the Russian army is exhausted and incapable of achieving major breakthroughs.

Regarding defense capabilities, Zelenskiy emphasized that in the absence of a European anti-missile defense programme, Ukraine requires support from the United States for air defense missiles. "Until the moment we will produce our European anti-ballistic system, until this moment, we need support from the United States," he said.

Ukraine aims to finalize an agreement with the United States regarding joint drone technology, drawing on five years of expertise in downing Russian drones and missiles. Zelenskiy noted existing drone agreements with Middle Eastern and European nations. "Now we're preparing the big drone deal with the European Union and I hope that we will have such decisions with American partners. I count on it."