Zelenskyy’s remarks came after U.S. President Donald Trump said late Friday that American and Russian officials were “already talking” bilaterally about the war in Ukraine. Trump said his administration has had “very serious” discussions with Moscow, but he did not elaborate.
Kyiv has already had contacts with Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, as well as with U.S. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Vice President JD Vance. Zelenskyy and Trump have briefly met twice, with one meeting pushed by French President Emmanuel Macron.
The government in Kyiv is still waiting for Kellogg and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to meet with top Ukrainian diplomats, and wants another personal meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy to happen.
“First and foremost, we need to hold a meeting with him,” Zelenskyy told the AP.
“I believe after our talk with Trump we should move on to some kind of format of conversation with the Russians. I would like to see the United States, Ukraine and Russians at the negotiating table because they are fighting against us. And the European Union voice has to be present,” Zelenskyy added.
Kyiv has been pushing allies not to talk about the ending the conflict behind Ukraine’s back and arguing only peace through strength can stop Putin.
