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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 US and Russia if it facilitated extra exchanges of prisoners and paved the way in which for conferences of nationwide leaders.
Zelenskyy, chatting with native journalists in Kyiv, additionally stated high Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov had instructed him of the newest discussions that happened on Friday with U.S. negotiators in the US.
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 US was now proposing three-sided talks — the US, Ukraine and Russia — on the degree of nationwide safety advisers.
“If such a gathering might be held now to permit for swaps of prisoners of warfare or if a gathering of nationwide safety advisers achieves settlement on a leaders’ assembly…I can’t be opposed. We’d assist such a U.S. proposal. Let’s examine how issues go.”
Zelenskyy stated Ukraine stood for proposals that would go away the “contact line” the place it was with out Ukraine having to surrender territory it nonetheless managed within the industrial area of Donbas in japanese Ukraine.
“For me, the truthful 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 nonetheless we method the difficulty, it can be 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 japanese Ukraine was a matter “to be determined by the individuals of Ukraine”.
“We’re rigorously engaged on each level, on each step with a view to obtain not a obscure ‘understanding’ concerning the division of territory and sources, 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 assist the present U.S.-led peace talks, a format that was value “preventing for,” whereas including: “If it does not work out, we’ll 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 focus on 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 just about four-year-old warfare in Ukraine has intensified in current weeks.
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