Ukraine is prepared to hold trilateral talks with the United States and Russia this month, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The president made this announcement during a news conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Kyiv on Sunday. Zelenskyy expressed support for a swift timeline to return to negotiations aimed at ending the war that has persisted for over four and a half years.
Zelenskyy noted that US efforts to facilitate a ceasefire have been paused since the US initiated military actions against Iran. However, he stated that Washington is now advocating for technical-level discussions by the end of October. He confirmed that the United Arab Emirates, which has previously hosted talks, could again serve as the venue for the meeting.
“I confirmed to [the US] that our side is ready to support this timeline,” Zelenskyy said, indicating that Kyiv is open to meetings in the UAE or another location suggested by the US.
Zelenskyy also mentioned that Washington has been in contact with Moscow regarding the proposed talks. The Kremlin indicated last month that it does not dismiss the possibility of trilateral discussions occurring this month.
Despite the potential for dialogue, both Russia and Ukraine have indicated intentions to intensify long-range attacks on military and related targets. Moscow has stated that it is focusing on Ukraine’s energy sector as winter approaches, recalling last year's similar attacks that resulted in prolonged power and heating outages amid severe cold.
Zelenskyy expressed astonishment at Russia’s “savage desire to escalate the situation every day” and accused Moscow of targeting civilian infrastructure, including data centers and mobile network facilities.
“Honestly speaking, I am not surprised by this approach to the war – by Russia’s hatred towards Ukraine – but I am surprised by the specific tactics used,” he remarked.
In addition to US involvement, India has also indicated its intention to play a larger role in mediating an end to the conflict. Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar stated at the Munich Security Conference in New Delhi that India has become more engaged in recent months, particularly concerning shipping in the Black Sea, which has faced issues with mines and attacks on commercial vessels. Jaishankar added that India is expanding its efforts to include discussions on grain and energy exports and exploring non-attack possibilities.