Zelensky on peace talks: I don’t think we’re at impasse

According to a Ukrinform correspondent, the president made this statement during a conversation with journalists.

“I don’t think we’re at an impasse. An impasse—and then what are we all supposed to do? Give up? Relax? Let Russia give up; we won’t. We must organize a trilateral meeting and continue the diplomatic track, doing everything possible to make it happen. And to be strong at the negotiating table, we must be strong on the battlefield. I am grateful to the Armed Forces. Today we are much stronger than we were six months ago,” Zelensky said.

He emphasized that the Ukrainian negotiating team is ready to meet “in any format, in any location, except Russia and Belarus.” He expressed hope that such a meeting would take place soon.

“The ball is now in the court of both the U.S. and Russia. I am very grateful to America for maintaining this format. God willing, we will have this opportunity in the coming weeks,” the president noted.

Zelensky noted that the trilateral meeting has been postponed because the United States is currently focused on the war in Iran; that is why the Americans are proposing to hold the talks in the U.S., but the Russians do not agree to such a venue and, in turn, are proposing Turkey or Switzerland as locations.

“We are ready to support the U.S., and we are ready to support a meeting in Switzerland, in Turkey, or wherever our partners are willing to meet,” the president emphasized.

As reported by Ukrinform, the head of the Ukrainian negotiating delegation, NSDC Secretary Rustem Umerov, noted that following the talks with the American side in Florida on March 21–22, progress has been made in aligning positions and narrowing the range of unresolved issues.

Photo: Office of the President