Zelenskyy says Ukraine waiting on US and Russia to set next round of talks
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sunday that Russia is ready for the next round of trilateral peace talks that will bring an end to the three-way peace talks. Occupation of Ukraine for 4 yearsBut it was up to Washington and Moscow to agree on where and when they would meet.
Zelenskyy said the United States offered to host the next meeting between American, Ukrainian and Russian negotiating delegations, including US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, but Moscow refused to send a delegation.
“We are waiting for a response from the Americans. Either they will change the country where we will meet, or the Russians must approve of the United States,” Zelenskyy said at a press conference on Saturday. “We do not block any of these initiatives. We want a tripartite meeting to be held.”
There is USA postponed sponsored talks Between the two sides due to the war in the Middle East. Iran warThe attack, which broke out on February 28 and spread to the region after the US-Israeli attacks on Iran, diverted international attention from the plight of Ukraine, which is trying to hold back Russia’s large army.
Speaking to reporters, Zelenskyy also warned of the “very high” risk that a war with Iran could deplete Ukraine’s air defense stocks it needs to counter Russian missile attacks.
Zelenskyy said he did not have a clear picture of current stocks and that he discussed with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Friday whether SAMP/T systems could serve as an alternative to US-made Patriot batteries in intercepting ballistic missiles. He said Ukraine would be “first in line” to test any viable alternatives.
He also appeared to counter US President Donald Trump’s recent claim that Washington did not need Ukraine’s drone technology.
“No, we don’t need their help with drone defense,” Trump said in a Fox News Radio interview broadcast Friday.
Zelenskyy said Washington had reached out to Ukraine “several times” to request help for a specific country or support for the Americans, but he did not provide details. He said the requests came from various U.S. military agencies to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense and other military leaders.
“All our institutions received these requests, and we responded to them,” Zelenskyy said.
He said last year he proposed to Washington a defense cooperation agreement worth $35 billion to $50 billion that would give the US administration access to the technology of about 200 Ukrainian drone, artificial intelligence and electronic warfare companies, with half of all production allocated to partners, primarily the US.
According to the Ukrainian leader, American military officials showed strong interest in the offer, and Trump also expressed his positive approach to the offer.
“We received a message from them and directly from the president that they are interested,” Zelenskyy told reporters. “We did not sign the document with President Trump. I don’t have an answer as to why. Maybe it will happen later, but I’m not sure.”
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