KYIV – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his readiness for the upcoming round of trilateral peace negotiations aimed at resolving Russia’s prolonged conflict in Ukraine, now extending beyond four years. However, he emphasized that the decision on the time and location rests with Washington and Moscow.
Zelenskyy revealed that the United States had suggested hosting the next discussions involving American, Ukrainian, and Russian teams, including U.S. representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Nonetheless, Russia has declined to dispatch its delegation for the talks.
During a Saturday media briefing, Zelenskyy stated, “We are awaiting feedback from the Americans. The options are either to change the meeting’s venue or for the Russians to agree to the U.S. location.” He added, “We are open to all initiatives and eager for a trilateral meeting to occur.”
The U.S. has delayed its planned talks between the two parties due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The war in Iran, which erupted on February 28 following joint U.S.-Israeli strikes, has escalated and shifted global attention away from Ukraine’s efforts to resist Russia’s larger military force.
In his address to journalists, Zelenskyy highlighted a significant risk that the conflict in Iran could deplete the air defense reserves that Ukraine relies on to fend off Russian missile attacks.
He acknowledged a lack of clarity regarding the current stockpile levels and mentioned recent discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris. They considered whether the SAMP/T systems could provide an alternative to the U.S.-made Patriot batteries for intercepting ballistic missiles. Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine would be “first in line” to trial any feasible alternatives.
He also appeared to push back against U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent assertion that Washington has no need for Ukrainian drone technology.
“No, we don’t need their help on drone defense,” Trump said in a Fox News Radio interview that aired Friday.
Zelenskyy said Washington had reached out to Ukraine “several times” to request assistance for a particular country or for support for Americans, without giving specifics. He said the requests had come from various U.S. military institutions to Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense and other military leaders.
“All our institutions received these requests, and we responded to them,” Zelenskyy said.
He said he had offered Washington a defense cooperation deal last year worth $35 billion–$50 billion that would have given the U.S. administration access to technology from roughly 200 Ukrainian drone, AI and electronic warfare firms, with half of all production earmarked for partners, primarily the U.S.
According to the Ukrainian leader, American military officials had expressed strong interest in the proposal, and Trump himself had indicated he was receptive.
“We received a message from them, and directly from the president as well, that they are interested,” Zelenskyy told 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.”
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