Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has sent an official delegation to the United States in an effort to move forward suspended negotiations aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Zelenskyy said last night that he had sent representatives to the US for a meeting. However, the White House did not confirm any meeting. Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia would not participate in the upcoming discussions in the U.S.
He added that the timing and venue for the next trilateral meeting remain undecided but described the pause as temporary. The trilateral talks, which have yet to produce any breakthrough on key issues, have been on hold as global attention shifted to the US-Israel and Iran conflicts.
The trilateral talks, which have yet to produce any breakthrough on key issues, have been on ice while the Iran war has dominated international attention.
Zelenskyy is keen to restore momentum to the negotiations and said late Thursday that he had sent representatives to the U.S. for a meeting expected Saturday. The White House did not confirm any meeting.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia won’t be present at those talks. He said the time and venue for a new trilateral meeting haven’t been agreed yet.
“The pause is temporary, we hope it’s temporary regarding the continuation of the trilateral format,” he said.
Western European officials have over the past year repeatedly accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of dragging his feet in negotiations while he tries to press his bigger army’s battlefield initiative and capture more Ukrainian land. Russian forces hold nearly 20% of Ukraine.
The latest conflict in the Middle East that began Feb. 28 with Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iran has diverted international attention from Ukraine’s plight.
At the same time, Russia is getting a financial windfall from a temporary U.S. waiver on oil sanctions while Ukraine is desperately short of cash and still waiting for a 90-billion-euro, or $103 billion, loan promised by the European Union.