New Round of Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks Held in the US
JAKARTA - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said a new round of negotiations with US officials would be held on Friday and Saturday in the United States.
The talks come amid an accelerated diplomatic push to end the war with Russia ahead of a European summit expected to discuss financing for Ukraine for the next two years.
"Our team will be in the United States on Friday and Saturday; they are already on the way. The Americans are already waiting," Zelenskyy told reporters, Thursday, December 18, as reported by ANTARA from Anadolu.
According to him, European representatives also have the opportunity to join, but did not specify who would represent Ukraine.
The announcement came after Ukrainian, US, and European officials held talks in Berlin earlier this week, focusing on discussions on security guarantees for Ukraine as well as territorial issues.
The upcoming meeting is said to take place in the state of Florida, United States, before the planned separate dialogue between Russia and the United States.
The participants in the meeting have not been officially confirmed. Politico reported that the United States was likely to be represented by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, son-in-law and unofficial adviser to President Donald Trump.
Russia is said to be represented by Kirill Dmitriev, a close associate of President Vladimir Putin.
Ukrainian elections
Zelenskyy also said that discussions with the United States regarding the possibility of elections in Ukraine were limited to the presidential election, with no plans for parliamentary elections or local head elections.
He said Washington raised the issue of the presidential election while expressing its readiness to hold it if conditions permit.
"The United States asked for presidential elections and I said I was ready for that. We did not discuss the Rada (Verkhovna Rada, or parliament) elections or local elections," he said.
Zelenskyy also responded to the possibility of remote voting, stressing his support for online elections, although he acknowledged that there was still rejection in parliament.
"I have always supported and since the beginning of the Covid pandemic, I have encouraged regulatory changes so that people can choose online. Until now, we have not reached a consensus with members of parliament," he said.
When asked whether parliament had begun drafting regulations related to the election, Zelenskyy said there had been no concrete steps, but his attitude had been conveyed to legislators.
"As far as I know, there is none. But I have conveyed all the signals to them," he said.
Source: Anadolu