Zelenskyy and Trump may meet in September — Asharq Al-Awsat
Ukraine’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Anatolii Petrenko said in an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat that Kyiv is in constant contact with the US negotiating team. Separately, the publication, citing a high-ranking Ukrainian source, wrote that a bilateral meeting between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump may take place in September.
Contacts with the United States
According to Petrenko, Ukraine is coordinating further steps with the American side and preparing subsequent communications. He described Ukraine’s peace proposals as constructive and stressed the need for joint work with the United States and European partners to advance the diplomatic process.
The ambassador thanked Trump for his personal involvement and efforts aimed at ending the war. He also stated that Ukrainian-US talks covered peace efforts, the bilateral agenda, security guarantees, a prosperity plan, and a support package for the winter period.
Petrenko reported three rounds of substantive negotiations involving representatives of France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. According to him, the participation of European representatives demonstrates unity and solidarity with Ukraine.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
Proposed format
In the ambassador’s view, the best format for further negotiations would be a leaders’ meeting between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin, with Trump possibly participating. Petrenko believes that the most sensitive issues can be resolved only at the leaders’ level.
He said that such a meeting could take place in a neutral country acceptable to both sides. For Ukraine, any state except Russia and Belarus could be a possible venue, and the Ukrainian side is ready for a meeting without preconditions. Russia is an aggressor state and is waging war against Ukraine.
The ambassador also expressed gratitude to the United States for the assistance provided and stated the need for further support for Ukraine’s energy sector, as well as strengthening air and missile defense ahead of a difficult winter amid Russian aggression.
