Ukraine signals readiness for US-backed talks with Russia
Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Kyiv could meet by the end of October, but no date or venue has been agreed.
Ukraine is ready to take part in trilateral talks with the United States and Russia by the end of October, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday. The proposal remains tentative, with no meeting date or location confirmed.
Speaking at a news conference in Kyiv alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Zelenskyy said Ukraine supported a swift return to talks aimed at ending the war. He said Washington was seeking technical-level discussions by the end of October.
Zelenskyy said the United States had contacted Moscow about the plan. He said the United Arab Emirates, which has hosted previous talks, could be a venue, and that Kyiv was open to another location proposed by Washington.
The Kremlin said last month it did not rule out three-way talks this month. The source account gives no response from Moscow to the latest proposal.
The reported diplomatic push comes as Russia and Ukraine have signalled plans to intensify long-range attacks. Zelenskyy accused Russia of targeting civilian infrastructure, including data centres and mobile network facilities. India’s Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said his country aims to expand its mediation efforts, including discussions on Black Sea shipping, grain and energy exports, and possible non-attack arrangements.
