Zelensky: Trilateral Talks Planned for Early November, Up to Russia
President Volodymyr Zelensky said after a conversation with Donald Trump's envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner that talks between the teams of Ukraine, the United States and Russia are planned for the first half of November, but that their holding depends on the Russian side. He spoke at an online event of the Hudson Institute, as Suspilne reported and European Pravda relayed.
Zelensky said he had a phone call with U.S. special representatives Kushner and Witkoff, during which they discussed the results of the meetings in Norway and how "we can advance diplomacy further".
'Everything depends on the Russians'
"In November we have an agreement to hold a trilateral meeting in the Ukraine–US–Russia format at the level of teams, and we hope it will take place. It is planned for the first half of November, as early as possible, but we are ready to meet on any day, even tomorrow. However, everything depends on the Russians,"the Ukrainian president stressed.
According to him, Ukraine had also expected a trilateral meeting in October. "But it did not happen, because the Russians invented yet another reason to refuse. Now we must all focus on making these meetings happen. Of course, together with America, Europe and our other partners. These meetings are necessary, and we need diplomacy to move forward," he said.
Call for leader-level talks
Zelensky also believes such meetings cannot take place without the U.S. or without American pressure on Russia. "We need trilateral negotiations between Ukraine, America and Russia, and Europe must also be part of this conversation. In addition, we should move from technical-level talks to a meeting of leaders, because key issues can only be resolved at the highest level," he added.
Background
Witkoff called Russian leader Vladimir Putin a "humanist" after meeting him in St. Petersburg on Wednesday, October 21, on settling the war in Ukraine. Zelensky said Russia supports a trilateral meeting at the level of teams and that the dates of the possible meeting are still being agreed. Our earlier report: Zelensky Expects Witkoff Briefing Friday, Talks in UAE Floated.