There Will Be No Trilateral Talks Before the Elections in Russia — Zelenskyy
There will be no trilateral meeting on ending the war involving Ukraine, the U.S., and Russia before the Russian parliamentary elections on September 20. At the same time, Ukrainian and American negotiators continue to maintain constant contact and are preparing further diplomatic steps.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also expects progress in negotiations on energy and grain exports following his meeting with Donald Trump in late September.
On September 10, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that a trilateral meeting on ending the war will not take place before the parliamentary elections in Russia. Elections to the Russian State Duma are scheduled for September 20. According to Zelenskyy, a new round of negotiations in the Ukraine–U.S.–Russia format should not be expected before that date.
At the same time, the diplomatic process continues. The Ukrainian and American sides are continuing to communicate and coordinate their next steps. In other words, this is not about abandoning the negotiations, but rather that the next trilateral meeting is being postponed at least until the Russian elections are over.
Ukraine and the U.S. Maintain Contact
Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukrainian and American negotiators remain in constant contact. Diplomatic contacts between the countries have intensified in recent days. On September 6, U.S. President’s Special Envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner visited Kyiv. Prior to that, they held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
After the meeting in Kyiv, Zelenskyy stated that the U.S. side had presented several ideas regarding the further negotiation process. According to him, Ukraine is ready to work on resuming diplomatic efforts but expects concrete results from the negotiations. It was also reported earlier that Moscow might return to the negotiation process after the elections in Russia. Sources at the Élysée Palace mentioned this following consultations involving Ukraine, the U.S., France, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
What Might Be Discussed After the Elections
According to Zelenskyy, following his meeting with Trump in late September, there could be progress on issues related to energy and grain exports. These topics have already been discussed during previous contacts. Ukraine is interested in ensuring that the negotiations focus not only on general statements about peace but also on specific agreements that could influence the situation.
The humanitarian sphere remains a separate area of importance. Zelenskyy previously cited increasing the number of prisoner-of-war exchanges and speeding them up as one of his priorities.
The trilateral format remains on the agenda
Just a few days ago, Zelenskyy spoke about the possibility of a new meeting between Ukraine, the U.S., and Russia as early as this fall. On September 8, the president noted that the meeting could take place in the United Arab Emirates, Switzerland, Turkey, or another country willing to host the talks. Among the possible topics, he mentioned energy, grain exports, and humanitarian issues.
At the same time, no specific agreements on the date and location of the meeting had been reached at that time. Russia also stated that it did not rule out a return to the trilateral format, but did not specify any dates. Now, Zelenskyy has clearly set the next milestone—September 20, when Russia’s parliamentary elections will conclude.
After that, provided all parties agree, they may attempt to resume the negotiation process. Meanwhile, Ukraine and the U.S. are already maintaining contact, without waiting for the Russian elections to conclude.
Twenty-one Ukrainian pilots are currently undergoing training in Canada, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported. According to him, this will significantly strengthen Ukraine’s combat aviation capabilities, along with the pilots being trained by other countries.
