Zelenskyy can leverage Moscow ties from comedy days to make peace deal, says former key aide
Iuliia Mendel, Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s former spokesperson, has urged the Ukrainian president to meet Vladimir Putin in Moscow and seek compromises, arguing his past work and connections there could help secure peace. Her comments come as Ukraine, Russia and the United States prepare for another round of technical-level talks, with officials hoping these could lead to direct negotiations between the two leaders.
Before entering politics, Zelenskyy performed and worked in film and television in Russia, where Mendel says he earned his first millions and knew people close to Putin. He won Ukraine’s 2019 presidential election with about 73% of the runoff vote after promising to pursue peace; Russia had annexed Crimea and begun its war in Donbas in 2014, and the full-scale war has since defined much of his presidency.
In short
- Mendel says Zelenskyy should meet Putin in Moscow.
- She argues his former Russian entertainment ties could help negotiations.
- New technical-level peace talks are being prepared.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
A meeting in Moscow could use Zelenskyy’s past professional ties to open channels and test whether direct engagement can produce a ceasefire or other practical steps towards peace. Supporters may argue that taking political risks and considering compromises is justified if it can reduce deaths and bring negotiations closer, especially given Zelenskyy’s earlier pledge to pursue peace.
The case against
Meeting Putin in Moscow could expose Zelenskyy to pressure and be read as legitimising Russia’s actions or weakening Ukraine’s negotiating position. Critics may argue that personal connections from his entertainment career offer little reason to trust that talks would bring a durable settlement, and that compromises made under wartime pressure could leave Ukraine less secure.
Explained simply
Volodymyr Zelenskyy is Ukraine’s president. Before entering politics, he built a career as a comedian and actor, including work in Russia. He was elected in 2019 after campaigning to pursue peace.
Russia annexed Crimea and began fighting in Ukraine’s Donbas region in 2014; in 2022, it launched a full-scale invasion. Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, leads the country at war with Ukraine. Iuliia Mendel, who previously served as Zelenskyy’s spokesperson, says his past work in Russia may help him pursue an agreement.
Talks involving Ukraine, Russia and the United States can affect whether the countries move towards direct negotiations. Any settlement would concern the future of a war that has shaped Ukraine’s politics and relations with Russia.