US and Ukraine resume talks to end war

US and Ukrainian officials met in the United States on Saturday in an effort to revive stalled negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. He added that one meeting had already been held and that talks were due to continue on Sunday.

‘The most important thing is to understand to what extent the Russian side is ready to take steps towards a real end to the war,’ Zelenskyy said, without providing further details. According to Ukrainian media, the talks are being held in Florida.

The United States is represented by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, while Ukraine is represented by National Security and Defence Council Secretary Rustem Umerov and Presidential Chief of Staff Kyrylo Budanov.

US-brokered peace talks have stalled in recent weeks, particularly following the escalation of tensions in the Middle East after the attacks on Iran. The last meeting between Russian and Ukrainian negotiators took place in Geneva in February.

Three rounds of trilateral talks have been held so far between Ukraine, Russia and the US, two in Abu Dhabi and one in Geneva. The next round, scheduled for early March, was postponed due to the deterioration of the security situation in the region.

(lud)