Zelensky: Ukraine preparing for new peace talks next week

(Patria) - President Volodymyr Zelensky said last night that Ukraine is awaiting more information from the United States regarding further peace talks and expects new meetings next week.

Zelensky's statement during his nightly video address seemed to suggest that a meeting scheduled for Sunday in the United Arab Emirates between representatives of Ukraine, Russia, and the United States would not take place. The three sides held a round of talks last week.

"We are in constant communication with the American side and expect concrete details from them regarding further meetings," Zelensky said, Reuters reported.

"Ukraine is ready to work in all formats. It is important to have results and for the meetings to take place. We are counting on meetings next week and are preparing for them."

US envoy Steve Witkoff led a team of representatives on Saturday in Florida with Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev and described the talks as "productive and constructive".

The United States has led diplomatic efforts to end the war, which was launched almost four years ago by the Kremlin's invasion of its smaller neighbor.

Witkoff singled out the issue of territory as key to making progress in the negotiations, and Kyiv rejected Moscow's demand to cede all of Donbas, including areas not occupied by the Russian army.

Kremlin foreign policy aide Yury Ushakov said this week that territory is not the only key issue being discussed, but did not identify other unresolved issues.