KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed readiness for the next round of trilateral peace talks aimed at ending Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, which has persisted for over four years. In comments released on Sunday, Zelenskyy indicated that the location and timing of the meeting depend on agreements between Washington and Moscow.
Zelenskyy revealed that the United States had suggested hosting the upcoming negotiations between American, Ukrainian, and Russian negotiating teams, comprising U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. However, he noted that Moscow had declined to send a delegation to the proposed talks. "We are waiting for a response from the Americans. Either they will change the country where we meet, or the Russians must confirm the U.S.," Zelenskyy stated during a media briefing on Saturday. "We are not blocking any of these initiatives. We want a trilateral meeting to take place."
Moreover, the U.S. has recently postponed its sponsored discussions due to the escalating conflict in the Middle East, specifically the Iran war, which erupted on February 28. This war originated from U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran and has diverted international attention from Ukraine as it faces challenges against a larger Russian military force. Zelenskyy cautioned that the Iran war poses a "very high" risk of depleting Ukraine's air defense stockpiles, which are crucial for countering Russian missile attacks.
During his discussions, Zelenskyy also engaged with French President Emmanuel Macron about the potential of SAMP/T systems as alternatives to U.S.-made Patriot batteries for intercepting ballistic missiles. He emphasized that Ukraine is eager to be "first in line" to test any effective alternatives.
In the context of military cooperation, Zelenskyy rebutted U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent claim that Washington has no requirement for Ukrainian drone technology. Trump had said in a Fox News Radio interview that aired Friday, "No, we don’t need their help on drone defense." In contrast, Zelenskyy noted that Washington had contacted Ukraine "several times" for assistance, albeit without providing specific details. He mentioned that various U.S. military institutions had reached out to Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense and other military leaders for support.
Zelenskyy reiterated an offer he made to Washington last year for a defense cooperation deal valued between $35 billion and $50 billion, which would grant the U.S. administration access to technology from around 200 Ukrainian companies focused on drones, artificial intelligence, and electronic warfare. Half of the production was designated for U.S. partners. According to Zelenskyy, U.S. military officials had shown significant interest in the proposal, with Trump himself expressing receptiveness. "We received a message from them, and directly from the president as well, that they are interested," Zelenskyy stated, adding that no formal agreement was signed with Trump and expressing uncertainty about future prospects.
On the topic of oil transit, Zelenskyy criticized the notion of reopening the Druzhba pipeline, which previously transported Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia until late January. He opposed the idea of allowing Russian oil to traverse Ukraine while the European Union maintains sanctions against its sale in other locations. "Why can we, in one case, tell the United States that we oppose lifting sanctions, while on the other hand forcing Ukraine to resume oil transit through Druzhba — and at a political price that effectively pays for anti-European policies?" he questioned. The U.S. has recently loosened certain sanctions on Russian oil shipments in response to global concerns over rising crude prices prompted by the Iran war.
Zelenskyy warned that should the conditions imposed due to the ongoing dispute jeopardize weapon supplies to Ukraine, Kyiv might have to reconsider resuming oil transit, labeling such pressure as "blackmail." Since January 27, oil deliveries through the Druzhba pipeline have been halted, leading to rising tensions between Hungary and Ukraine. The Ukrainian government contends that a Russian drone strike damaged the pipeline's infrastructure, while Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has accused Zelenskyy of intentionally obstructing oil supplies.
In retaliation, Orbán vetoed a new round of EU sanctions against Russia and is withholding a substantial €90 billion ($106 billion) EU loan for Ukraine until oil flows are resumed.
