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

What happened: Iuliia Mendel, Zelenskyy's spokesperson from 2019 to 2021, urged him to meet Putin face-to-face in Moscow and use his past business and political ties there to negotiate a peace deal. Key numbers: Mendel served as spokesperson from 2019 to 2021. Zelenskyy won the 2019 runoff with roughly 73% of the vote. Why it matters: Mendel said personal opposition between Zelenskyy and Putin is the main obstacle to diplomacy, as negotiations remain deadlocked over territory, security guarantees and ceasefire terms. Zelenskyy rejected a 2025 Moscow invitation.

Iuliia Mendel, Zelenskyy's spokesperson from 2019 to 2021, urged him to meet Putin face-to-face in Moscow and use his past business and political ties there to negotiate a peace deal.

Mendel said personal opposition between Zelenskyy and Putin is the main obstacle to diplomacy, as negotiations remain deadlocked over territory, security guarantees and ceasefire terms. Zelenskyy rejected a 2025 Moscow invitation.