Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy speaks throughout a press convention with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (not pictured), on the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany Dec. 15, 2025.
Liesa Johannssen | Reuters
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Saturday that Ukraine would again a U.S. proposal for three-sided talks with the USA and Russia if it facilitated extra exchanges of prisoners and paved the way in which for conferences of nationwide leaders.
Zelenskyy, talking to native journalists in Kyiv, additionally stated prime Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov had informed him of the newest discussions that happened on Friday with U.S. negotiators in the USA.
A brand new spherical was scheduled for Saturday, he stated, specializing in Ukraine’s post-war restoration. Russian particular envoy Kirill Dmitriev was additionally in Miami for talks with U.S. officers.
Zelenskyy stated the USA was now proposing three-sided talks — the USA, Ukraine and Russia — on the degree of nationwide safety advisers.
“If such a gathering may very well be held now to permit for swaps of prisoners of battle or if a gathering of nationwide safety advisers achieves settlement on a leaders’ assembly…I can’t be opposed. We’d help such a U.S. proposal. Let’s examine how issues go.”
Zelenskyy stated Ukraine stood for proposals that would depart the “contact line” the place it was with out Ukraine having to surrender territory it nonetheless managed within the industrial area of Donbas in jap Ukraine.
“For me, the honest model is we stand the place we at the moment are standing,” he stated.
“This can be a matter of precept. Regardless of the format and nevertheless we method the problem, it is crucial for us that Ukrainian authorities retain management over that a part of Donbas that we management now.”
He stated a U.S. proposal to create a “free financial zone” in jap Ukraine was a matter “to be determined by the folks of Ukraine”.
“We’re fastidiously engaged on each level, on each step so as to obtain not a imprecise ‘understanding’ in regards to the division of territory and assets, however an settlement on secure and lasting peace and dependable safety ensures,” he stated.
Zelenskyy additionally stated Ukraine and its European allies ought to proceed to help the present U.S.-led peace talks, a format that was price “preventing for,” whereas including: “If it would not work out, we are going to all take into consideration different choices.”
Zelenskyy was responding to a query about remarks by French President Emmanuel Macron suggesting that Europe must re-engage in direct talks with Russia if the U.S.-led efforts founder.
Zelenskyy earlier stated he would talk about the brand new U.S. proposal for three-sided talks with Umerov.
Ukraine and Russia haven’t negotiated face-to-face since July, however U.S.-backed shuttle diplomacy to finish the virtually four-year-old battle in Ukraine has intensified in current weeks.
