Zelenskyy announces meeting of Ukrainian and US negotiating teams on Saturday

Tetyana Oliynyk - 19 March, 20:12

Volodymyr Zelenskyy Photo: President's Office

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced that the Ukrainian negotiating team is heading to the US, where a meeting is scheduled for Saturday.

Source: Zelenskyy's address on 19 March

Details: The president said there are indications from the American side regarding readiness to continue work in existing negotiation formats to end Russia's war against Ukraine.

Quote: "There has been a pause in the talks, and it is time to resume them. We are doing everything to ensure that the negotiations are genuinely substantive. The Ukrainian team – the political members of the negotiating group – is already on the way, and we expect a meeting this Saturday in the United States.

Today we spoke in detail about negotiations with [negotiators Rustem] Umierov, Kyrylo Budanov and Davyd Arakhamia. Serhii Kyslytsia will also take part in meetings. Our priority is to do everything possible to create the conditions for a dignified peace. I thank everyone who is helping with this."

Details: Zelenskyy added that Rustem Umierov, Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council, visited countries in the Middle East and has an understanding of what security agreements can be concluded with them.

Quote: "This week Rustem Umierov was in the key capitals of the Gulf region and has already reported on the results today. For now, by phone. Tomorrow there will be a more substantive report online. There is an understanding of what new security agreements can be reached with countries in this region.

There are concrete areas in which they can support us, Ukraine, and support our defence – above all air defence – and there are areas in which we can support them and are already doing so. Ukrainian expert groups for protection against Shahed drones are already in the relevant countries and there are daily reports on the progress of their missions."

Background:

On 13 March, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine was ready for a new round of negotiations on ending the war, but the venue and timing had not yet been agreed because of differing positions between the US and Russia.
Zelenskyy has also insisted on the need to meet US President Donald Trump, saying that some issues remain at a standstill.
Meanwhile, media reports have suggested that Trump is losing interest in the peace negotiations on settling Russia's war against Ukraine as he has shifted his focus to Iran.
On 3 March, Peskov said there was no clarity on the timing or venue of the next round of peace talks between Russia, the US and Ukraine.

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