Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's chief of staff said in an interview broadcast late on Thursday (Dec 12) that Kyiv was not yet ready to start talks with Russia as it lacked the weapons, security guarantees and international status that it sought.

Andriy Yermak's comments to public broadcaster Suspilne come as Zelenskiy publicly considers the possibility of a negotiated settlement to the war with Russia, launched by Moscow's full-scale invasion of its neighbour in February 2022.

"Not just yet today," Yermak told Suspilne, when asked whether Ukraine was ready to embark on talks.

"We don't have the weapons, we don't have the status that we are talking about. And that means an invitation to Nato and an understanding of clear guarantees that would provide for us, so that we could be sure that [Russian President Vladimir] Putin won't be coming back in two-three years."

In comments this week alongside German opposition leader Friedrich Merz, Zelenskiy said Ukraine wanted an end to the war and efforts were needed to make his country stronger and oblige the Kremlin to work towards peace.

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