Ukraine readies for talks next week, awaits US details — Zelenskyy
Photo: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Getty Images)
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine counts on further talks next week and waits for specific details from the United States.
He said that National Security and Defense Council secretary Rustem Umerov had been briefing him throughout the day. Ukraine is in constant contact with the US side and expects clarity on the next stages of talks.
"We are waiting for them to provide specifics on further meetings. Ukraine is ready to work in all effective formats. What matters is the results and that meetings happen. We are counting on meetings next week, and are preparing for them," Zelenskyy said.
Abu Dhabi talks and need for Putin personal meeting
On January 23–24, the first trilateral talks between Ukraine, the US, and Russia took place in the United Arab Emirates. The US described the meeting as positive, while Kyiv named it as substantive.
Ahead of the talks, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that territorial issues—primarily concerning the Donbas—would be central.
At the same time, US President Donald Trump said on January 29 that he had asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree to an energy truce and refrain from striking Ukraine for one week.
Zelenskyy later confirmed that the Abu Dhabi talks discussed an energy truce, which has been maintained over the past several days.
A second round of talks is scheduled for February 1. According to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, President Trump's special envoys are not expected to attend, which would mean the talks would be bilateral between Ukraine and Russia.
However, the Ukrainian leader warned that the meeting could be postponed due to the situation surrounding Iran, as the US may strike the ayatollah regime—a development that could affect the timing of talks.
In addition, he said in a recent interview that territorial issues cannot be resolved without a direct, personal meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
