Zelenskyy confirms talks on Ukraine’s security guarantees in US

"Today our diplomatic work continues — by our Office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Security and Defense Council (RNBO) — with partners who support the need for a leaders’ level format, a format to end the war. The level of leaders allows us to discuss key issues — this is exactly the level we need," Zelenskyy said.

At the same time, he noted that everyone can see very brazen negative signals from Moscow regarding negotiations.

"The Russians are not going to fulfill what they promised — promises made to the US, promises made to others in the world who insist on ending the killings and on real diplomacy. Pressure is needed. Russia must be forced to take real steps. Russia must end the war it started and continues. We need an answer from them," the president stressed.

According to him, Russia must be pushed to the right answer, and this depends on the US and "all those who truly consider this war to be wrong."

"From our side, we will be fully ready — with platforms that are prepared to host a meeting and ensure effective diplomacy," Zelenskyy added.

He said that yesterday, Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak and RNBO Secretary Rustem Umerov held meetings in Qatar, including discussions on mediation in negotiations with Russia.

Today, meetings took place in Saudi Arabia, tomorrow — in Switzerland.

"On Friday — the United States of America, New York, meetings with President Trump’s team. Everyone working on the content of the security guarantees will be involved — the military, political, and economic components of security guarantees," the president said.

According to him, the task is to accelerate security guarantees for Ukraine as much as possible, so that they also serve as leverage over Russia.

"The Russians must see how serious the world is and how severe the consequences for Russia will be if the war continues," Zelenskyy emphasized.

Meeting of Witkoff, Yermak, and Umerov

Earlier, media outlets reported that this week, a Ukrainian delegation will arrive in the US to meet with the US President’s special envoy Steve Witkoff. The special envoy of President Donald Trump and the Ukrainian representatives will discuss security guarantees for Kyiv.

On the Ukrainian side, the negotiations will include Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak and Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Rustem Umerov.

In addition to discussing security guarantees, the agenda will include talks about a possible future bilateral meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Earlier, Witkoff himself confirmed in an interview with American media that he will meet with Ukrainian representatives in New York this week. According to him, the parties will discuss the next stage of ending the war.

Prior to this, Witkoff stated that the US expects to achieve an end to the war in Ukraine and the Middle East by the end of this year.