President Volodymyr Zelenskyy heard a briefing from the negotiating team following meetings with representatives of the United States and Russia, emphasizing that effective security guarantees are among the foundations for achieving peace, according to the president's social media.
Zelenskyy said the Ukrainian team provided detailed information about how the talks developed and what specifically provoked the strongest emotions and the most constructive discussions.
"Ukraine needs a result, and one of the most important foundations of achieving a peaceful result is effective security guarantees. Ukraine did not start this war, and it is Russia that must end the war," Zelenskyy stated. "It is important that partners remain active, work for peace together with us, and accept all realistic proposals. I thank the United States for their readiness to help."
The president discussed with the team the status of work on documents important for ending the war, as well as possible new meetings in the near future. "I believe that more progress is needed," he said.
Zelenskyy said he defined the framework for further dialogue for the team and is working out a schedule of necessary steps. He plans to inform European partners about the state of negotiations and the real prospects of the entire negotiation process.
Reuters reported on 6 February that American and Ukrainian negotiators discussed the possibility of signing a peace agreement in March and holding elections in Ukraine in May.
The agency also reported that two key issues remain unresolved in the negotiations — regarding Donbas and the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.
On 7 February, Zelenskyy said the United States proposed ending Russia's war against Ukraine before the summer, as later they will have a different priority — US congressional elections.
He also said the United States proposed for the first time to hold the next round of trilateral negotiations on settling Russia's war against Ukraine on American territory.
