Zelenskyy: "U.S. Proposes Trilateral Talks with Putin; Middle East a Possible Venue"

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the United States is pushing for a trilateral summit involving the leaders of Russia and Ukraine. Middle Eastern countries, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia, have been mentioned as possible venues.

On October 18, local time, President Zelenskyy said on social media, "The United States is pushing for a meeting with Putin and has proposed a trilateral meeting."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

He said, "The meeting could be held in one of the Middle Eastern countries," adding, "The United States has consistently mentioned the UAE or Saudi Arabia as possible venues." He also said it could take place in the United States during the G20 summit this December or in a European country. However, he added that neither Russia nor the United States had given a definitive answer yet.

President Zelenskyy has repeatedly proposed a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but Russia has refused, insisting that it be held on Russian soil.

The push for the trilateral meeting comes amid differences between the United States and Ukraine over attacks on Russian oil refineries. After unilaterally announcing an energy ceasefire, U.S. President Donald Trump also made a surprise announcement of a so-called "diesel deal" to supply Russian diesel subject to sanctions to the United States and global markets.

The move was seen as an attempt to ease public discontent over rising oil prices, but tensions between the two sides deepened as Ukraine resumed attacks on Russian oil refineries. President Zelenskyy claimed that Russia had attacked Ukraine's energy, oil, and gas sectors 76 times in the week following President Trump's announcement of an energy ceasefire. He stressed, "Negotiations with the United States will continue," adding, "We hope the United States will put more pressure on Putin."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.