KIEV.- The president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, held talks this Tuesday in Oslo with envoys of the US president, Donald Trump, to move towards a possible trilateral meeting with the Russian ruler, Vladimir Putin, within the framework of diplomatic efforts to end the war.
Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, will travel to Moscow this Wednesday to meet with Putin, while Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law, will participate in the negotiations by videoconference, a US official reported.
Zelensky described the talks as “very productive and constructive” and confirmed that Witkoff will travel to Russia to continue the diplomatic process.
“Strategic agreements”
“Let’s see what Putin has to say,” said the Ukrainian president during a joint press conference with the Prime Minister of Norway, Jonas Gahr Store, and the President of Finland, Alexander Stubb.
Both leaders also participated in the conversations with Witkoff and Kushner, who intervened by videoconference.
Zelensky thanked those who “support Ukraine and defend peace” and noted that his government is working with its European partners to present proposals that will allow progress towards an agreement.
“We have some clear ideas about how to achieve peace. And we are united with our European partners in this effort, and we want the Americans to convey these ideas to the Russians,” he said.
The president of Ukraine highlighted the importance of a possible meeting between the leaders of the United States, Ukraine and Russia to address issues that require decisions at the highest level.
“One of the important ideas is to move towards a possible trilateral meeting of leaders to address issues that only they can resolve,” he said.
“Energy truce”
Zelensky assured that kyiv continues to seek a solution to the conflict, which began with the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. He also noted that Putin rejected the energy truce proposal announced by Trump, which the Ukrainian government initially supported.
“Ukraine immediately supported the US proposal for an energy ceasefire. But Russia responded by continuing its attacks,” he declared.
The president reiterated that Ukraine is willing to refrain from attacking sensitive facilities in the Russian energy sector if Moscow stops attacking Ukrainian energy infrastructure.
“We have offered different options. We are willing not to attack sensitive points in the Russian energy sector if Russia stops attacking ours,” he said.
Diplomatic efforts continue as Ukraine seeks to have the United States transmit its proposals to Moscow and promote a meeting between the three leaders to address issues related to ending the war.
