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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed readiness Sunday for the next round of trilateral peace talks aimed at ending Russia’s four-year invasion, stating that the timing and location now depend on agreements between Washington and Moscow.
According to Zelenskyy, the United States proposed hosting the next meeting between American, Ukrainian, and Russian negotiating teams, which include U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, but Russia has so far declined to send a delegation.
“We are waiting for a response from the Americans. Either they will change the country where we meet, or the Russians must confirm the U.S.,” Zelenskyy said during a media briefing on Saturday. “We are not blocking any of these initiatives. We want a trilateral meeting to take place.”
The peace initiative has faced complications as the U.S. postponed its sponsored talks due to the escalating conflict in the Middle East. The Iran war, which began on February 28 following U.S.-Israeli strikes and has spread across the region, has diverted international attention away from Ukraine’s struggle against Russian forces.
During the briefing, Zelenskyy expressed concern about the “very high” risk that the Middle East conflict could deplete the air defense systems Ukraine relies on to counter Russian missile strikes. The Ukrainian president said he discussed with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris whether SAMP/T systems could replace U.S.-made Patriot batteries for intercepting ballistic missiles, emphasizing that Ukraine would be “first in line” to test viable alternatives.
Zelenskyy also appeared to contradict U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent statement that Washington doesn’t need Ukrainian drone technology. “No, we don’t need their help on drone defense,” Trump had said in a Fox News Radio interview that aired Friday.
The Ukrainian leader revealed that Washington had “several times” approached Ukraine requesting assistance for specific countries or American support. These requests came from various U.S. military institutions to Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense and other military leaders, though Zelenskyy didn’t provide specific details.
“All our institutions received these requests, and we responded to them,” he stated.
Zelenskyy mentioned that last year he had offered Washington a defense cooperation deal worth $35 billion to $50 billion that would have provided the U.S. administration access to technology from approximately 200 Ukrainian drone, AI, and electronic warfare firms. The proposal stipulated that half of all production would be earmarked for partners, primarily the United States.
According to Zelenskyy, American military officials showed strong interest in the proposal, and Trump himself had indicated receptiveness. “We received a message from them, and directly from the president as well, that they are interested,” Zelenskyy told reporters. “We did not sign the document with President Trump. I do not have an answer as to why. Perhaps it will happen later, but I am not sure.”
On the issue of the Druzhba pipeline, which until late January transported Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia, Zelenskyy expressed opposition to allowing Russian oil to transit through Ukraine while the EU imposes sanctions on its sale elsewhere.
“Why can we, in one case, tell the United States that we oppose lifting sanctions, while on the other hand forcing Ukraine to resume oil transit through Druzhba — and at a political price that effectively pays for anti-European policies?” he questioned.
Zelenskyy acknowledged that if conditions imposed on Ukraine because of this dispute threatened weapons supplies, Kyiv would have no choice but to resume oil transit. However, he emphasized that he had told EU partners this would amount to “blackmail.”
Oil deliveries through the Druzhba pipeline have been halted since January 27, leading to an escalating feud between Hungary and Ukraine. The Ukrainian government claims a Russian drone strike damaged the pipeline’s infrastructure, but Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has accused Zelenskyy of deliberately disrupting oil supplies.
The diplomatic standoff has resulted in Orbán vetoing a new round of EU sanctions against Russia and blocking a major 90-billion euro ($106 billion) EU loan for Ukraine until oil flows resume, further complicating Ukraine’s position as it continues to defend itself against Russian aggression.
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17 Comments
This seems like a delicate diplomatic dance, with Ukraine waiting on the US and Russia to set the terms for the next round of talks. I’m curious to see if they can find a way to break the impasse.
It’s good to see Ukraine remaining open to further negotiations, even as the conflict continues. Hopefully the key parties can find a way to move the process forward productively.
I wonder what the prospects are for a meaningful breakthrough in these talks, given the escalating tensions and the distractions posed by other crises. Ukraine has a tough road ahead.
The shifting geopolitical landscape certainly complicates matters for Ukraine. I hope the key parties can find a way to re-engage productively and make progress towards a resolution.
Agreed, Ukraine has a tough road ahead navigating the complex web of international conflicts and priorities. Their ability to maintain momentum will be crucial.
The timing of these talks is crucial, given the other regional conflicts grabbing international attention. Ukraine will need to maintain pressure to ensure its voice is heard amidst the noise.
Absolutely, Ukraine will need to be persistent in keeping its issues on the global agenda. Diplomacy can be a slow process, but they can’t afford to lose momentum.
This situation highlights the challenges of managing multiple international conflicts simultaneously. Ukraine will need to tread carefully to ensure its voice is heard amidst the noise.
Yes, Ukraine has to walk a fine line between assertiveness and diplomacy to keep its issues on the agenda. It’s a delicate balancing act with high stakes.
This situation highlights the challenges of managing multiple international crises simultaneously. Ukraine will need to tread carefully to ensure its voice is heard amidst the noise.
Absolutely, Ukraine faces a delicate balancing act as it tries to keep its issues on the global agenda. Persistence and diplomacy will be key to making progress.
It’s good to see Ukraine remain open to further talks, even as the conflict rages on. Hopefully the US and Russia can come to an agreement on the next meeting location soon.
It’s good that Ukraine remains open to negotiations, but the shifting geopolitical landscape certainly complicates matters. Hopefully the key parties can find a way to re-engage productively.
It’s concerning to hear about the high risk that the Ukraine conflict could escalate further. I hope all sides can show restraint and focus on negotiating a peaceful resolution.
The timing of these talks is crucial, given the other regional conflicts grabbing international attention. Ukraine will need to maintain pressure to ensure its voice is heard amidst the noise.
It’s concerning to hear about the high risk of further escalation in the Ukraine conflict. I hope all sides can show restraint and focus on finding a peaceful solution through dialogue.
The Ukraine situation is certainly complex, with the escalating tensions in the Middle East complicating matters. I hope the key parties can find a way to move the peace process forward despite the distractions.