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BELGIUM, BRUSSELS, CONFLICT RESOLUTION, EMMANUEL MACRON, EUROPE, EUROPE/ASIA, EUROPEAN UNION, GULF, GULF KINGDOM, INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, MILITARY SUPPORT, NORTH AMERICA, PEACE NEGOTIATIONS, RUSSIA, RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR, STEVE WITKOFF, UNITED STATES, VOL, WAR, WHITE HOUSE, ZELENSKY
Sophia Klein
Zelensky Anticipates Meaningful US-Ukraine Talks Next Week in Saudi Arabia
President Zelensky announced US-Ukraine talks in Saudi Arabia next week, hoping for meaningful discussions while not participating directly. US envoy Witkoff aims to create a peace framework as tensions persist, including previous disagreements over military aid. Zelensky is working to repair relations with the US, emphasizing Ukraine’s longstanding pursuit of peace and calling for global pressure on Russia to end hostilities.
President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced forthcoming US-Ukraine talks scheduled for next week in Saudi Arabia, expressing optimism for a “meaningful meeting.” While Zelensky will be in the region, he will not directly participate in these discussions, emphasizing Ukraine’s desire for a quick and sustainable peace in light of the ongoing conflict with Russia.
US President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, indicated that the American delegation aims to establish a “framework” for peace in an effort to resolve the Russia-Ukraine war. Following a recent public disagreement between Zelensky and Trump over the cessation of fighting, the US had paused military aid to Ukraine and ceased intelligence sharing.
Zelensky has expressed regret regarding the prior incident and is actively working to mend relations with the United States, which remains Ukraine’s primary military supplier. Witkoff noted that Trump had received a letter from Zelensky that included both an “apology” and a “sense of gratitude,” stating, “Hopefully, we get things back on track with the Ukrainians, and everything resumes.”
As the conflict persists, Zelensky faces considerable pressure from the US to make concessions during peace negotiations, while he seeks robust security guarantees for Ukraine. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, they have seized approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory.
In conjunction with announcing the talks, Zelensky underscored that Ukraine has sought peace from the onset of the war and advocated for increased international pressure on Russia to accept the necessity of ending hostilities. He also referenced a ceasefire plan proposed by French President Emmanuel Macron, aimed at reducing attacks on civilian infrastructure, although Russia has not publicly commented on these suggestions.
On Thursday, President Vladimir Putin emphasized Russia’s intention to achieve a peace that would ensure long-term stability for its nation, asserting, “We do not need anything that belongs to others, but we will not yield anything that belongs to us.”
Concerns have mounted regarding Trump’s overtures towards Russia, with Ukraine and its European partners cautious of potential negotiations that lack their involvement. Meanwhile, the US’s suspension of military assistance to Ukraine has been portrayed by Trump administration officials as a strategy to encourage cooperation from Kyiv regarding US-led peace efforts. However, there has been no public disclosure of any specific pressures the US may be applying on Russia to concede during these talks.
In summary, President Zelensky’s upcoming US-Ukraine talks in Saudi Arabia bring with them hopes for establishing a substantial framework for peace amid ongoing conflict with Russia. The context of strained relations with the US adds complexity to these discussions, as Ukraine seeks firm security guarantees and the international community is called upon to exert pressure on Moscow. The developments surrounding these negotiations could greatly influence the trajectory of the Russia-Ukraine war moving forward.
Original Source: www.bbc.com
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