Ukraine, Russia position for peace talks ahead of pivotal White House visits
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged the U.S. and European partners not to “abandon” Kyiv in any revived peace talks with Russia, as efforts to end the nearly three-year-old war gain momentum.
The return of President Donald Trump to the White House has renewed the prospect of negotiations. Trump stated over the weekend that he had been “making progress” in contacts with both Kyiv and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In an interview with Britain’s ITV News, Zelenskyy expressed willingness for talks in “any format,” provided that the U.S. and Europe continue to support Ukraine and offer security guarantees.
Russian officials have signaled openness to negotiations but have not indicated any shift in their objectives, which include annexing Ukrainian territory and blocking Kyiv’s NATO ambitions. Putin has also dismissed direct talks with Zelenskyy, calling him “illegitimate.”
On Monday, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin told RIA Novosti that Moscow had not yet received any suitable negotiating proposals.
Diplomatic discussions are set to continue as White House officials prepare for high-level visits to Germany and Ukraine. Vice President JD Vance is expected to attend the Munich Security Conference in southern Germany next weekend, where Zelenskyy will lead Ukraine’s delegation. Trump’s Ukraine-Russia envoy, Keith Kellogg, is scheduled to visit Ukraine on February 20.
Zelenskyy warned against freezing the conflict along current front lines, stating that such an outcome would only lead to further aggression. “A frozen conflict will lead to more aggression again and again,” he said, arguing that it would be “an absolute defeat for everyone.”
As diplomatic efforts unfold, both sides have continued their military confrontations. On Sunday night, Ukraine’s air force reported that it had downed 61 of 83 Russian drones launched towards the country, with another 22 drones lost in flight. Officials reported damage to a non-residential building in Kyiv and injuries in Sumy from drone attacks.
Russia’s Defense Ministry stated that it had shot down 17 Ukrainian drones over the Black Sea, Crimea, and several Russian regions. Krasnodar Governor Veniamin Kondratyev reported damage to a multi-story building from Ukrainian drone debris. Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials claimed that drones targeted the Afipsky oil refinery in Russia’s Krasnodar region.
Credit: ABC News
