Zelenskyy says Russia won't join Ukraine-US talks, outlines plan
Photo: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Getty Images)
This Saturday, March 21, a new meeting between Ukrainian and American officials will take place. The talks will proceed without Russian participation, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy states while answering questions from journalists.
"We have a bilateral meeting, a Ukrainian-American meeting in the US," the President says.
What they plan to discuss
He notes that, first, the Ukrainian side wants to discuss specific or tentative dates for a new trilateral meeting involving Russia. It has already been postponed several times, and more concrete details are now needed.
Second, Ukraine needs to maintain close contact with the US, as Washington recently suspended some sanctions against the Russian energy sector.
"All of this poses risks for us, increasing funding for Russia and expanding their capabilities on the front lines. This is dangerous. Therefore, the meeting is also important from this perspective," the head of state emphasizes.
Third, Ukrainian and American officials will work on bilateral documents regarding the future end of the war, security guarantees, and Ukraine’s reconstruction.
Why political subgroup was sent to negotiations
The President recalls that progress had been made in the military track of the trilateral negotiations. Ukraine, Russia, and the US agreed on how to monitor the ceasefire once the political will exists. So far, that will does not exist. That is precisely why Ukraine sent a political subgroup to the negotiations.
"We understand that the Russians do not want to come to the US, and the American side, while the war in the Middle East continues, says that their presence in the US is a priority. That is why our group is going to the US," he adds.
Talks were postponed
A new round of talks between Ukraine, Russia, and the United States was scheduled to take place in early March. However, those plans changed when the United States launched a war against Iran.
So far, there has been no progress on the political front of the negotiations, as Russia refuses to agree to a ceasefire unless its demands regarding Donbas are met.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy believes that the territorial issue can only be discussed during his meeting with Vladimir Putin.
