Zelensky: U.S. and Ukraine to Discuss Direct Talks with Russia This Week

Trump Administration Envoy Visits Kyiv
Putin Remains Reluctant

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on August 25 (local time) that senior officials from the United States and Ukraine will meet this week to discuss the possibility of direct negotiations with Russia. This move is seen as an attempt to find a breakthrough as peace talks to end the Russia-Ukraine war remain at a standstill.

AP Yonhap News

According to AP Yonhap News, Reuters, and Interfax Ukraine, President Zelensky made these remarks during a joint press conference with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, who was visiting Kyiv that day.

President Zelensky stated, "Today, I will meet with Kellogg (Keith Kellogg, Special Envoy of U.S. President Donald Trump) to discuss preparations for a possible meeting with the Russian side," adding, "Later this week, the Ukrainian and U.S. teams will meet."

When reporters mentioned J.D. Vance, Vice President of the United States, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff as possible U.S. participants, President Zelensky replied, "They or some of them will attend the meeting."

According to the Kyiv Post, on August 24, Presidential Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak contacted Secretary Rubio, and Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha held an online meeting with the foreign ministers of the Group of Seven (G7).

Previously, President Zelensky had proposed holding direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate an end to the war, and President Trump also offered to mediate. However, President Putin has shown a passive attitude toward the proposal.

Special Envoy Kellogg, who is currently visiting Kyiv, said at an event held in Kyiv that day that the U.S. side is "working very, very hard" to achieve peace in Ukraine, according to AP Yonhap News.

At this event, which was attended by politicians, business leaders, and diplomats, he expressed hope that they would "reach a position to guarantee security (for Ukraine after the war)," adding, "The work is progressing."