President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s May 13, 2025 address frames Ukraine’s position on ending Russia’s war with a mix of urgency, resolve, and diplomatic sequencing. He opens by reporting emergency work in Kharkiv after another Russian drone strike on a civilian energy facility, underscoring his core claim: Russia started the war, continues it, and answers talk of ceasefires or negotiations with fresh attacks. That pattern, he argues, clarifies the path forward—sustained international pressure to make Moscow stop stalling and a negotiation format that is both real and accountable. Kyiv, he says, is “absolutely ready” for such a format and is actively preparing, including an upcoming visit to Türkiye. Zelenskyy thanks partners who are pressing for a long-lasting, unconditional ceasefire and for leader-level talks. He highlights a joint statement by Nordic and Baltic leaders backing negotiations, notes broader European resolve, records China’s stated support for a ceasefire and talks, and cites Washington’s clear message that top leaders should meet. The practical implication, Zelenskyy stresses, is that any credible negotiation must involve the one person who decides everything in Russia—Vladimir Putin—because only he can choose to end the war. Alongside this outward diplomacy, the speech elevates domestic resilience as strategic leverage. Zelenskyy relays reports from the foreign minister, the head of the Presidential Office, and the defense minister on ongoing high-level contacts to strengthen Ukraine’s bargaining position. He also spotlights internal governance: efforts by the tax service to dismantle shadow schemes and protect fiscal stability, and the state’s ability to maintain all social payments despite war and diplomatic turbulence. The message is calibrated for audiences at home and abroad: Ukraine is ready to negotiate seriously and swiftly, provided the format is effective and addresses real decision-makers; partners’ pressure remains essential to curb Russian obstruction; and Ukraine’s institutions are functioning, reinforcing both public resilience and diplomatic credibility.