Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine, the United States and Russia have agreed to hold a trilateral meeting at the team level in the first half of November, though he warned the talks hinge on Moscow.
Zelenskyy outlined the plan in an address at the Hudson Institute, excerpts of which he shared on X. He and his team spoke with President Donald Trump’s envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, about the results of meetings in Oslo and St. Petersburg and how to push diplomacy forward next month.
“We are ready to meet any day – even tomorrow.”
A trilateral meeting had also been expected in October but never took place. Zelenskyy blamed the Russians, saying they came up with another reason not to meet. His account of the agreement and of the October delay could not be independently verified.
Asked whether the meetings could happen without the United States or American pressure on Russia, he answered, “Probably not.” Ukraine is counting on Washington to keep the talks a priority at every level, he said, along with Europe and other partners.
Zelenskyy also called for moving beyond technical-level talks to a meeting of leaders, arguing the key issues can be resolved only at that level.
He raised two complaints about support from the U.S. side. Speed limits on the Starlink and Starshield satellite services remain in place, he said, and speeds have not been restored. Deliveries of interceptors meant to defend against Russian ballistic missiles, which he said were already agreed on, are still delayed.
“This is a real problem, because the Russians attack us almost every single day,” he said.
Zelenskyy described Ukraine’s operations at the front as fairly successful, with troops continuing to defend their positions. Conditions have grown harder, he said, partly because of the Starlink and Starshield policies and speed limits, but the front line is holding.
He said he wants Ukraine’s relations with the United States and its other partners to be strong, friendly and free of misunderstandings. Without a strong America that cares about world affairs, he added, the world would be worse off.
Zelenskyy also addressed why Ukraine has been speaking more openly to the world. Kyiv wants as many people as possible to understand its situation, he said, because public understanding can help political leaders take a stronger path toward peace.
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