Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said today that he had a “long and substantial” telephone conversation with US envoys and Kiev negotiators who were meeting in Florida to discuss an end to the conflict in Ukraine.
“Ukraine is determined to continue working in good faith with the American side to achieve true peace. We agree on the next steps and formats for negotiations with the United States,” said Zelensky, in a post on the social network X.
In the same publication, the President of Ukraine thanked his North American counterpart, Donald Trump, for the “so intense” approach in the negotiations to end Russia’s invasion of Ukrainian territory, which began on February 24, 2022.
According to Zelensky, his telephone conversation includes US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, along with Kiev negotiators, namely the Secretary of Internal Security and Defense of Ukraine, Rustem Umerov, and the Chief of the General Staff, Andriy Hnatov, who were meeting in Miami, Florida, following the several rounds of negotiations that began two weeks ago.
The Ukrainian President said that this telephone conversation resulted in a “very focused and constructive” discussion.
“We addressed many aspects and analyzed key points that can ensure an end to the bloodshed and eliminate the threat of a new large-scale Russian invasion, as well as the risk of Russia not fulfilling its promises, as has happened repeatedly in the past,” he said.
The President of Ukraine also said that he is now awaiting a detailed report of the face-to-face meeting from the Kiev negotiators, noting that “not everything can be discussed over the phone”, so it is necessary to work closely with the teams on ideas and proposals.
“Our approach is that everything must be viable — all measures crucial for peace, security and reconstruction,” defended Zelensky.
French President Emmanuel Macron announced today that he will participate on Monday in a meeting in London with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on US mediation in Ukraine.
“Ukraine can count on our unconditional support. That is why we are making efforts within the framework of the Coalition of Volunteers”, wrote Macron in a message on his X account, in which he took the opportunity to denounce “with the utmost firmness” last night’s Russian attacks in Ukraine, in particular against energy and transport infrastructure.
The French President insisted that it is necessary to “continue to put pressure on Russia to force it to make peace” and considered that Moscow is entering a dynamic of escalation and “is not seeking peace”.
In London, according to Macron, the objective will be to assess the situation and “the ongoing negotiations within the framework of American mediation”.
Today’s talks resumed after Ukrainian authorities reported a major Russian attack across the country, using more than 650 drones and 51 missiles, which damaged energy and transport infrastructure and injured at least six civilians.