Zelensky after speaking with Trump, says talks must lead to leadership meeting

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Wednesday that he and US President Donald Trump agreed that the next session of trilateral talks in March on a war settlement should lead to a meeting of the countries' leaders.

Zelensky, speaking after a telephone conversation with Trump, said the tripartite talks with Russia and the United States will be held early next month. American negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kouchner also participated in the call.

“We expect this meeting to create an opportunity to bring talks to the leadership level. President Trump supports this sequence of steps,” wrote Zelenskiy on X.

This is the only way to solve all complex and sensitive issues and finally end the war”.

The call took place on the eve of another meeting, between Ukrainian and American negotiators only, to discuss post-war reconstruction.

Zelensky said the two leaders discussed both meetings. He thanked the United States for their “active involvement” in the peace process and for the missiles for air defence systems that were helping Ukraine cope with winter attacks.

Addressing a press conference in Kiev earlier in the day along with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, Zelenskiy said Thursday's meeting would include discussing a “package of prosperity”.

Zelenskiy said the US wanted to find a way to end Europe's biggest conflict since World War II as soon as possible. But Moscow and Kiev remain far apart in their positions.

“In my opinion, difficulties are not at the military level now. The problem lies in the political will to end this war and in the matter of territories”, Zelenskiy said.

“I think the tripartite talks will be held in early March. Tomorrow, economic documents will be prepared at a bilateral meeting between Ukraine and the United States. ”

Zelenskiy also said Russian claims Tuesday that Kiev was trying to secure nuclear weapons were an attempt to exert political pressure on Ukraine during the talks./Periscopi/