Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Kyiv is prepared to participate in the next round of peace negotiations aimed at ending the prolonged war with Russia, but the timing and location of the meeting now depend on agreements between Washington and Moscow.
In remarks released Sunday, Zelenskyy confirmed that Ukraine supports a new trilateral dialogue involving delegations from Ukraine, Russia, and the United States. However, he noted that uncertainty remains after Russia declined to participate in a proposed meeting hosted by Washington.
“We are not blocking any initiatives,” Zelenskyy said during a media briefing. “Either the venue will change, or Russia must confirm the United States as the host.”
Talks Delayed as Global Attention Shifts
The next diplomatic round was expected to include U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner alongside Ukrainian and Russian negotiators. However, Washington has postponed its mediation efforts due to escalating tensions in the Middle East.
The outbreak of conflict involving Iran earlier this year has diverted global attention and diplomatic resources away from the war in Ukraine, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion more than four years ago.
Concerns Over Air Defense Supplies
Zelenskyy also warned that the Middle East conflict could strain international military resources, particularly air defense systems critical to Ukraine’s defense against Russian missile attacks.
The Ukrainian leader said he recently discussed alternative defense solutions with Emmanuel Macron during talks in Paris. One option under consideration is the deployment of the European-made SAMP/T missile defense system as a possible supplement to U.S.-supplied Patriot missile defense system batteries.
Ukraine, he said, would be willing to test any effective alternative capable of intercepting ballistic missiles.
Dispute Over Drone Technology Cooperation
Zelenskyy also addressed recent remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump suggesting that Washington did not require Ukrainian drone technology.
According to the Ukrainian president, American military institutions had previously contacted Kyiv seeking assistance related to drone capabilities. He said multiple Ukrainian defense bodies received such requests and responded accordingly.
Zelenskyy revealed that he had proposed a major defense partnership with the United States valued between $35 billion and $50 billion. The initiative would have allowed Washington access to technologies developed by around 200 Ukrainian companies specializing in drones, artificial intelligence, and electronic warfare systems.
Half of the production under the proposed agreement would have been allocated to international partners, primarily the United States. Although U.S. officials reportedly expressed interest, the agreement has not yet been finalized.
Energy Dispute Adds to Political Pressure
Beyond the battlefield, tensions are also rising over the future of Russian oil transit through Ukraine. Zelenskyy criticized proposals that would require Kyiv to resume flows through the Druzhba pipeline while European sanctions against Russian energy exports remain in place.
The pipeline, which previously supplied oil to Hungary and Slovakia, has been inactive since late January after infrastructure damage linked to a drone strike.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has accused Ukraine of intentionally blocking oil shipments, a claim Kyiv denies. The dispute has already affected European Union policy discussions, with Hungary vetoing additional sanctions against Russia and delaying a major financial assistance package for Ukraine.
Zelenskyy warned that forcing Ukraine to restart oil transit under political pressure would amount to “blackmail,” especially if it threatened the country’s access to critical military support.
As diplomatic uncertainty continues, Kyiv says it remains committed to negotiations but insists that meaningful progress will require cooperation between both Washington and Moscow.
