Ukraine ‘waiting’ on US, Russia for next round of talks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said that he was ready for the next round of tripartite peace talks to end Russia’s four-year occupation of Ukraine, but it was up to the United States and Russia to agree on where and when they would meet.

Zelenskiy said the United States offered to host the next meeting between the US, Ukraine and Russian negotiating delegations, including US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, but Russia 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,” Zelenskiy said at a media briefing. he said.

“We do not block any of these initiatives. We want a tripartite meeting to be held.”

The US postponed sponsored talks between the two sides due to the war in the Middle East.

The Iran war, which broke out on February 28 and spread to the region following the US-Israeli attacks on Iran, diverted international attention from the plight of Ukraine, which is trying to keep the Russian army back.

Speaking to reporters, Zelenskiy 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.

Zelenskiy 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 said last year he offered the United States a defense cooperation agreement worth $35 billion to $50 billion, which would give the U.S. administration access to the technology of about 200 Ukrainian drone, artificial intelligence and electronic warfare companies, and that half of all production would be allocated to partners, primarily the United States.

According to the Ukrainian leader, US military officials showed strong interest in the offer and US President Donald Trump also expressed his positive attitude towards the offer.