Stalemate? Zelenskyy explains what is really happening in talks with Russia
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy (photo: facebook.com/zelenskyy.official)
A trilateral meeting between Ukraine, the United States, and Russia has not yet taken place — parties cannot agree on either location or timing. Zelenskyy explained why negotiations have been paused in comments to journalists.
Zelenskyy recalled the chronology of the negotiation process. The United States proposed holding a meeting on its territory — Ukraine agreed. Russia refused and proposed Türkiye or Switzerland. Then the American delegation said it is not leaving the country for now.
"We are ready to support a meeting in the United States, we are ready to support a meeting in Switzerland, in Türkiye, and wherever partners are ready. Now the ball is on the side of the United States and Russia," the president said.
Zelenskyy added that Ukraine is ready for a meeting in any format and any place, except Russia and Belarus.
Why meeting is delayed
According to Zelenskyy, one of the reasons is that Washington's attention is focused elsewhere.
"It is being delayed because the focus of the United States today is on Iran," he explained.
At the same time, the president thanked Europe and several American representatives who continue to raise the issue of war.
"Let Russia surrender, we will not"
"I do not believe we have a deadlock. Deadlock after which we all have to surrender, relax? Let Russia surrender, we will not," the head of state said.
According to him, Ukraine must continue the diplomatic track and at the same time strengthen positions on the battlefield — because this determines weight in negotiations.
Zelenskyy also assessed the state of the Armed Forces.
"Today we are much stronger, honestly, than in the past six months," he said and thanked the military.
The president expressed hope that the trilateral meeting will take place "in the coming weeks."
Russia is ready to sign a draft memorandum on peace if Ukraine agrees to withdraw troops from the entire territory of the Donetsk region.
If agreed, a meeting between United States President Donald Trump, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and President of Russia Vladimir Putin is planned to withdraw armies.
Meanwhile, for Ukraine, in addition to territorial issues, security guarantees are important. It became known that the American side will not provide them until the end of the war. This is linked to the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from Donbas, Zelenskyy believes.
