# Zelenskyy can leverage Moscow ties from comedy days to make peace deal, says former key aide

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/zelenskyy-can-leverage-moscow-ties-from-comedy-days-to-make-peace-deal-says-former-key-aide/
- Published: 2026-10-25T22:51:42+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-25T23:09:26+00:00
- Original publisher: Fox News (publisher lean: Far right)
- Original article: https://www.foxnews.com/world/zelenskyy-can-leverage-moscow-ties-from-comedy-days-make-peace-deal-says-former-key-aide
- Topics: Government, Politics, World

## Key points

- 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.

## Summary

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.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.