'Russia must end its aggression': Zelenskyy outlines new peace talks directives
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (photo: Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that he has issued updated directives for the Ukrainian delegation ahead of upcoming talks with Russia.
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In his statement, Ukraine's leader addressed the ongoing war in the Middle East, noting that the timing and location of the next meetings between Ukrainian and US teams with Russian counterparts will be determined based on security conditions and diplomatic possibilities.
The president also stressed that Russia must end its aggression against Ukraine and all of Europe. In addition, security guarantees must be ensured.
"I have issued updated directives for our negotiating team and the broader Ukrainian diplomatic team. Peace is needed—true peace—and a real possibility for people to live freely and live safely," Zelenskyy said.
He added that National Security and Defense Council secretary Rustem Umerov attended a briefing following meetings with representatives of US President Donald Trump earlier this week.
"We discussed the main outcomes of the Geneva meetings, mostly on economic matters and reconstruction. And we are continuing preparations for a trilateral format, whenever that may take place," the President concluded.
Peace talks, war ending deadline
Recently, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke by phone with US President Donald Trump. According to Axios, Trump told Zelenskyy he wants to end the war within a month.
Earlier, Reuters reported that Ukraine and the US were discussing the possibility of signing a peace agreement with Russia as early as March this year.
According to Bloomberg, the Trump administration's push is tied to another goal: the White House wants a peace deal finalized before the 250th anniversary of US independence, which will be celebrated on July 4.
In addition, Ukraine, the US, and Russia began trilateral talks earlier this year. The fourth round is scheduled for March 4–5, and Bloomberg says it could be decisive for signing a peace agreement.
In response, Russia is reportedly prepared to withdraw its troops from the Sumy, Kharkiv, and Dnipropetrovsk regions, and to give up claims on Ukrainian-controlled parts of the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions.
