Trilateral negotiations originally planned for Tuesday and Wednesday in Turkey have been postponed by the American side. Zelensky announced that the talks between Ukraine, Russia, and the US are currently rescheduled for next week at Washington's initiative.
"We were ready to go to Turkey. The meeting was postponed. It was the American side that delayed it, saying, 'Let's do it next week.' That is the information we have today," Zelensky noted.
The president added that discussions with the US take place daily, noting that officials will wait to see what the next date will be. During a press briefing, Zelensky addressed several key issues, including the negotiations, the Middle East, and the kidnapping of Oschadbank cash collectors in Hungary.
Key statements from the president included:
- On the trilateral talks: "The American side postponed this meeting: they delayed it, saying let's do it next week."
- On the next meeting venue: "I just had a conversation with President Erdogan. The dialogue regarding ending the war in Ukraine is important and a priority, so we were ready to go to Turkey."
- On the Middle East situation: "All American experts understand that only Ukrainian experience can truly help in shooting down mass Shahed attacks. Ukraine has sent three professional military teams to the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia."
- On the kidnapping of Oschadbank cash collectors in Hungary: "The example of banditry is very fitting. We need only one thing from Europe today — not to remain silent."
- On sanctions against Russia: "We know that the Russian Federation is holding dialogues with US representatives regarding the lifting of sanctions. We believe the US will not make such concessions. Making Russia suffer financially is the right strategy for the civilized world because it uses this money for weapons."
Additionally, Zelensky discussed the situation around Iran with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. "We are ready to share our expertise to prevent the war from expanding and to protect lives, but at the same time, Ukraine needs to strengthen its air defense, and we count on appropriate support from our partners," he said.
Zelensky noted that Turkey is ready to host the next round of negotiations in the trilateral format, expressing appreciation for the initiative and hope for results.
He also thanked Erdogan for supporting Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, highlighting Turkey's readiness to play a role in ensuring maritime security within the Coalition of the Willing and supporting future decisions to aid Ukraine's energy sector.