Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced a “constructive meeting” with Keith Kellogg, the special representative of the U.S. president, who visited Kyiv as part of efforts to strengthen Ukrainian-American relations.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Security and Cooperation Discussions
During the negotiations, the parties discussed a wide range of issues, focusing on achieving real peace and ensuring security for Ukraine. According to Zelensky, particular attention was given to the PURL initiative, which involves funding for the production and procurement of Patriot systems, as well as the conclusion of strong bilateral agreements for the joint production of drones and defense weapons. The Ukrainian side expressed hope for a positive response from the United States to these proposals.
Additionally, the talks addressed issues related to pressure on Russia, enhancing the effectiveness of tariff and sanctions policies, and coordinating actions with international partners to expedite the end of the war. Zelensky emphasized that a trilateral format for dialogue among leaders is the most effective way to achieve concrete results.
“These are separate projects within the PURL initiative for funding the production and procurement of Patriots, strong bilateral agreements for the joint production of drones and weapons that we proposed to America. We expect a positive response from the U.S. We specifically discussed pressure on the Russians and what we can do together with partners in tariff and sanctions policy to meet at the leadership level as soon as possible and end this war. The trilateral format of leaders is undoubtedly the most effective,” Zelensky wrote on Telegram.
Return of Children and International Coordination
At the meeting, issues regarding the return of Ukrainian children who were illegally taken from Ukraine were raised, as well as discussions on their conditions of stay and international cooperation for their protection. Zelensky expressed condolences to the people of the United States regarding the tragic death of Charlie Kirk and thanked President Donald Trump for his condolences concerning the murder of Ukrainian Irina Zarutska in North Carolina, emphasizing the importance of restoring justice in cases of violence.
An important focus of the negotiations was also the preparation for the 80th session of the UN General Assembly in New York and the continuation of cooperation within the “Coalition of the Willing” format. Zelensky announced the exploration of potential new meetings and various dialogue formats, without specifying details.
Keith Kellogg has refrained from commenting on the outcomes of this meeting. It is worth noting that he regularly visits Kyiv, recently participated in events for Ukraine’s Independence Day, and held a series of meetings with representatives of the Ukrainian government.
The U.S. presidential administration continues active efforts to end Russian aggression against Ukraine. Since the beginning of his presidential term, Donald Trump has emphasized the need to end the war as soon as possible and reach a peace agreement, focusing on ending hostilities rather than just supporting Ukraine.
Recently, U.S. officials have noted progress towards peace: Donald Trump has held meetings with both Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky. However, Russia still effectively blocks a personal meeting between the leaders, imposing additional demands. At the same time, the White House notes that the parties have shown a willingness to make concessions compared to their initial positions.
Ukraine insists on receiving security guarantees, while allies express readiness to deploy their forces on Ukrainian territory after the war ends. Russia, however, opposes such an initiative, and President Putin stated that the presence of European troops in Ukraine “especially now,” during the war, would be perceived as “legitimate military targets” for Russia.