KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Sunday that his country stands prepared for upcoming three-way peace negotiations aimed at ending Russia’s invasion that has lasted over four years, though the ball remains in the court of Washington and Moscow to determine meeting logistics.
According to Zelenskyy, the United States offered to host discussions involving American, Ukrainian and Russian diplomatic teams, featuring US representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, however Russia declined to participate with their own delegation.
“We are waiting for a response from the Americans. Either they will change the country where we meet, or the Russians must confirm the U.S,” Zelenskyy stated during Saturday’s media briefing. “We are not blocking any of these initiatives. We want a trilateral meeting to take place.”
Washington has delayed its planned talks between the warring nations due to Middle East conflicts. The Iran conflict, which began February 28 after US-Israeli military action against Iran and expanded throughout the region, has shifted global attention away from Ukraine’s struggle against Russia’s superior military forces.
During his press conference, Zelenskyy also cautioned about a “very high” possibility that the Iran conflict could deplete air defense supplies that Ukraine relies on to defend against Russian missile attacks.
The Ukrainian president acknowledged he doesn’t have complete information about current stockpile levels and revealed Friday discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris regarding whether SAMP/T defense systems could replace US-manufactured Patriot missiles for stopping ballistic threats. He indicated Ukraine would be “first in line” to evaluate any workable substitute.
Zelenskyy also seemed to counter recent statements by US President Donald Trump dismissing the value of Ukrainian drone technology.
“No, we don’t need their help on drone defense,” Trump commented during a Fox News Radio interview broadcast Friday.
The Ukrainian leader disclosed that Washington had contacted Ukraine “several times” seeking help for an unnamed nation or support for American personnel, though he provided no additional details. He noted these requests came from multiple US military organizations to Ukraine’s Defense Ministry and other military commanders.
“All our institutions received these requests, and we responded to them,” Zelenskyy explained.
He revealed proposing a defense partnership agreement to Washington last year valued between $35 billion and $50 billion, which would have provided US officials access to technology from approximately 200 Ukrainian companies specializing in drones, artificial intelligence and electronic warfare, with half the production designated for partners, mainly the United States.
The Ukrainian president said American military leadership showed significant enthusiasm for the arrangement, and Trump himself appeared open to the idea.
“We received a message from them, and directly from the president as well, that they are interested,” Zelenskyy informed reporters. “We did not sign the document with President Trump. I do not have an answer as to why. Perhaps it will happen later, but I am not sure.”
