Daijiworld Media Network - Kyiv
Kyiv, Mar 16: Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he is ready for the next round of trilateral peace talks aimed at ending Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but stressed that it is up to United States and Moscow to decide the venue and timing of the meeting.
Speaking at a media briefing, Zelenskyy said Washington had proposed hosting the next meeting between American, Ukrainian and Russian negotiating teams, which include US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. However, he said Moscow had so far refused to send a delegation.
“We are waiting for a response from the Americans. Either they will change the country where we meet, or the Russians must confirm the US,” Zelenskyy said, adding that Ukraine was not blocking any initiative and wanted the trilateral meeting to take place.
The US has postponed its sponsored talks between the two sides as global attention has shifted to the conflict in the Middle East following the outbreak of war with Iran on February 28 after US-Israeli strikes.
Zelenskyy also warned that the escalating Iran war could significantly affect Ukraine’s defence capabilities, saying there is a “very high” risk that global demand could drain the air defence stockpiles Kyiv depends on to intercept Russian missile attacks.
He said he had discussed the issue with Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Friday, including the possibility of using the European-made SAMP/T air defence system as an alternative to US-made Patriot missile batteries.
Meanwhile, Zelenskyy indicated that the US had approached Ukraine several times seeking assistance related to drone technology and defence cooperation, despite remarks by US President Donald Trump suggesting Washington did not require Ukrainian support in drone defence.
According to Zelenskyy, Ukrainian authorities had responded to requests from various US military institutions through the defence ministry and military leadership.
The Ukrainian leader also revealed that he had earlier proposed a defence cooperation deal worth between $35 billion and $50 billion that would provide Washington access to technologies developed by nearly 200 Ukrainian companies specialising in drones, artificial intelligence and electronic warfare systems. Half of the production, he said, would have been earmarked for partner countries, mainly the US.
Zelenskyy said American military officials had shown strong interest in the proposal and that Trump had also indicated openness to the idea, though the agreement was never finalised.
On the issue of energy supplies, Zelenskyy criticised proposals to resume Russian oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline, which previously transported crude to Hungary and Slovakia through Ukrainian territory.
He argued that allowing Russian oil shipments through Ukraine while the European Union imposes sanctions elsewhere would amount to political pressure on Kyiv.
Oil deliveries through the Druzhba pipeline have been halted since January 27 after infrastructure damage reportedly caused by a Russian drone strike. However, Viktor Orbán has accused Ukraine of deliberately blocking supplies.
In response to the dispute, Orbán has vetoed a new round of EU sanctions against Russia and is blocking a proposed €90 billion EU loan package intended to support Ukraine.