Zelensky comments on next round of Russia-US-Ukraine talks
Moscow, Kiev, and Washington are expected to hold the next round of talks on the Ukraine conflict later this week, Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky has said, adding that the negotiations could begin as early as Friday and could be moved from the United Arab Emirates to Türkiye or Switzerland.
Russia and Ukraine have been engaged for months in a US-mediated process that is reported to be approaching the final phase.
At the last round of talks in Geneva in mid-February, Ukrainian delegation head Rustem Umerov said, political and military working groups “discussed security parameters and mechanisms for implementing possible solutions.”
Chief Russian negotiator Vladimir Medinsky described the talks as “difficult but businesslike.”
The sides are expected to work on proposals that could be submitted to the leaders of the three countries for consideration, according to Kiev. A date for the next round had not been set until now.
“The meeting was expected during the period between March 5 and 8,” and is now expected to be held March 5 or 6, Zelensky said on Monday. It is unclear whether the talks will still be held in Abu Dhabi as previously planned, the Ukrainian leader said, citing the ongoing conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran.
The sides held two previous meetings in a similar format in Abu Dhabi in January, before the talks in Geneva in February.
Asked about how the US strikes on Iran could affect the negotiations and Moscow’s trust in Washington, the Kremlin said it is willing to continue the talks. “It is in our interests to continue the negotiations,” spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists on Monday. Russia still “highly appreciates” America’s mediation efforts, he said, adding that Moscow is “analyzing the situation and drawing relevant conclusions.”
“We trust only ourselves,” Peskov added.
The US and Israel launched the bombing campaign just days after indirect talks between US and Iranian delegations on Tehran’s nuclear program. Russia condemned what it called a “premeditated and unprovoked act of aggression.”
