KIEV: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced that Ukrainian and US officials will meet in Saudi Arabia next Monday for peace talks, coinciding with confirmed US-Russia discussions on the same day.
Speaking at a press conference in Oslo, Zelensky criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ongoing demands, which include halting all military aid to Ukraine, as obstacles to ending the war.
He also rejected suggestions that Ukraine should abandon its bid for NATO membership, calling it a “big gift to Russia.
The peace talks come as the US pushes for a ceasefire following more than three years of conflict. Both Zelensky and Putin have agreed to the idea in principle, but a truce remains elusive due to conflicting conditions.
Russia recently committed to pausing airstrikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, yet attacks from both sides persist.
Zelensky stated that Ukraine would present the US with a list of infrastructure sites requiring protection from Russian strikes at Monday’s talks.
He also denied claims that he discussed transferring ownership of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants to the US in a phone call with former President Donald Trump.
However, he acknowledged discussing the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia plant and expressed openness to US involvement in its modernization.
Moscow has reiterated its demand for guarantees that Ukraine will never join NATO. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has downplayed Ukraine’s NATO membership as a likely outcome of peace negotiations.
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Meanwhile, the war rages on, with overnight strikes killing two people in Ukraine, while Ukrainian drone attacks injured 10 and ignited an airfield fire in Russia. Addressing EU leaders via video,
Zelensky called for urgent military aid, requesting €5 billion for artillery shells and emphasizing that continued European support is “crucial” in pressuring Russia.
In the UK, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer emphasized the need for security arrangements in any peace deal.
Speaking at a military base in London, he proposed forming a “coalition of the willing” to enforce peace, warning that without firm backing, Putin would likely violate any agreement.
As diplomatic efforts continue, the future of Ukraine remains uncertain, with peace talks in Saudi Arabia set to play a crucial role in shaping the next phase of the conflict.
