Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said today that he is scheduled to sit down with President Trump next week while both leaders are in Manhattan for the UN General Assembly.
According to the Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform, Zelensky wants to focus the conversation on security guarantees promised to Ukraine, which he considers essential for reaching any eventual peace agreement in the war with Russia.
Russian leader Vladimir Putin has continued to dismiss direct negotiations with Zelensky, insisting he will only engage if his conditions are first satisfied.
“We expect sanctions if there is no meeting between the leaders or, for example, no ceasefire,” Zelensky stated in remarks issued by his office on Saturday, as cited by AFP.
“We are ready for a meeting with Putin. I have spoken about this. Both bilateral and trilateral. He is not ready.”
In advance of his upcoming encounter with Trump, Zelensky’s top aide Andriy Yermak spoke by phone Saturday with Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
“We discussed preparations for security guarantees for Ukraine, as well as expanding cooperation in military, defense, and economic areas,” Yermak posted on X.
The 80th session of the UN General Assembly will open on Tuesday.
Zelensky also revealed in a press briefing in Kyiv on Friday that there would “very likely, a meeting between the first ladies of Ukraine and the United States on the humanitarian issue relating to children,” Interfax Ukraine reported.
{Matzav.com}
