President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Switzerland have expressed their readiness to host negotiations aimed at ending the war that Russia is waging against Ukraine. This was announced in the president’s address on August 30.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Negotiation Initiatives and Ukraine’s Position
Zelensky emphasized that these countries are already holding meetings with the Ukrainian side, particularly following visits by Ukrainian representatives to Turkey and the Emirates, as well as negotiations in Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The president thanked these states for their willingness to facilitate the peace process.
“Today, Rustem Umerov was with me for a briefing. He returned after meetings in Turkey and the Emirates. There were also meetings in Saudi Arabia and Qatar. We are also working with Switzerland. Each of these countries is ready to be a platform for negotiations to end the war. I thank them for this,” he noted.
Zelensky also mentioned that he expects a report from the head of the President’s Office, Andriy Yermak, regarding negotiations with White House representative Steve Witkoff in the United States. According to the president, the Ukrainian delegation is preparing for an important meeting in Europe this week, focusing on seeking a strong response to the actions of the Russian Federation.
The Position of the USA and Security Guarantee Issues
Since Donald Trump took office as president of the United States, his administration has emphasized the need for a swift end to the war, focusing not only on supporting Ukraine but also on achieving a peace agreement. In recent weeks, U.S. representatives have reported some progress in peace negotiations, and Trump has met with both Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky.
Despite this, Russia is currently refusing a personal meeting between the leaders of Ukraine and the Russian Federation, putting forward additional demands. At the same time, the White House notes that both sides have already demonstrated a willingness to make concessions compared to their initial positions.
Ukraine continues to insist on receiving security guarantees. As reported on August 26, during negotiations regarding such guarantees, the U.S. expressed its readiness to provide air and intelligence support for a possible mission of European countries that may send their troops to Ukraine after the cessation of hostilities.
According to diplomats’ estimates, receiving promises of support from the U.S. is a significant achievement for Ukraine and its European allies. At the same time, the Russian Federation has repeatedly opposed the deployment of foreign troops on Ukrainian territory, which raises questions about the proposed security guarantee scheme.