Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is counting on new talks with the United States starting on Saturday to end Russia’s full-scale invasion of his country, following a break in diplomacy amid the conflict with Iran.
He has received positive signals from the U.S., Zelenskyy said in his evening video message from Kyiv. “There was a pause in negotiations; now it is time to end it.”
The group of Ukrainian negotiators responsible for the political part of the talks is already on its way to the U.S., Zelenskyy said.
He has agreed on the approach with the Secretary of the Security Council, Rustem Umerov, his Chief of Staff Kyrylo Budanov and other representatives, he said.
Zelenskyy said the talks with Washington would be a continuation of earlier negotiation formats, and made no mention of Russian representatives.
In Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov had said on Wednesday that the trilateral negotiations were on hold for the time being. On Thursday, he did not rule out a resumption, provided the U.S. had a date for it.
In a video link-up with the EU summit in Brussels, Zelenskyy said that the starting point for the talks was improving for Russia due to the war in Iran, but worsening for Ukraine, adding this must not be allowed to happen.
Moscow sees that air defense munitions are being used in the Gulf, which Ukraine lacks. Russia is also benefiting from the rise in oil prices and the U.S. has suspended sanctions on Moscow.
In contrast, new EU sanctions are stalling; a vital EU loan of $103 billion for Kyiv is hanging in the balance, he said.
(Miami Herald)
