Ukraine ready for trilateral meeting as Iran war delays U.S.-sponsored negotiations
KYIV, Ukraine – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sunday that he is ready for the next round of trilateral peace talks to end Russia’s more than four-year invasion of Ukraine, but emphasized that it depends on Washington and Moscow to agree on a location and timing.
Zelenskyy noted that the U.S. had proposed hosting the meeting between American, Ukrainian, and Russian negotiators, including U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, but Russia has not confirmed participation.
“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. “We are not blocking any of these initiatives. We want a trilateral meeting to take place.”
The U.S.-sponsored talks have been postponed due to the ongoing war in Iran, which erupted on Feb. 28 following U.S.-Israeli strikes and has drawn global attention away from Ukraine. Zelenskyy warned that the Iran conflict could strain Ukraine’s air defense stockpiles, which are crucial for countering Russian missile attacks.
In Paris, Zelenskyy discussed with French President Emmanuel Macron whether alternative systems, like the SAMP/T, could substitute for U.S.-made Patriot batteries. “Ukraine would be first in line to test any viable alternative,” he said.
Zelenskyy also addressed U.S. President Donald Trump’s comments dismissing the need for Ukrainian drone technology, clarifying that Washington had reached out to Ukraine multiple times for military support. Last year, Ukraine offered a defense cooperation deal valued between $35 billion and $50 billion, giving the U.S. access to drone, AI, and electronic warfare technology from around 200 Ukrainian firms. Zelenskyy said the proposal had interest from American military officials and Trump, but no agreement was finalized.
Source: CBS News