At the same time, according to the TASS agency, the spokesman of the Russian president told journalists that the pause in the tripartite peace talks is temporary. “We hope that it is temporary. I mean the continuation of the tripartite format,” said Peskov. He did not say where the next round of this negotiation could take place. “I have nothing to tell you about it yet,” he said. Ukrainian, Russian and American negotiators met for the last time on February 17 and 18 in Geneva. Before that, two rounds took place in Abu Dhabi.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi said last week that the partners’ attention is now focused on the situation around Iran, and the next planned meeting was postponed at the suggestion of the American side. According to him, the change of the place where it would take place was also being discussed. According to him, it was originally planned to go to Abu Dhabi again, but the United Arab Emirates hit Iran with retaliatory strikes after the US and Israel launched attacks against Iran.
Zelenskyj: Tripartite talks need to be renewed
On Thursday evening, the Ukrainian president stated in his traditional speech that the break in the tripartite negotiations must be ended and the talks resumed.
“We received signals from the American side that indicate readiness to continue working within the current format of negotiations,” Zelenskyy said, adding that the Ukrainian team is already on its way to the US, where, according to him, negotiations are expected on Saturday. However, he did not mention who should attend this meeting.
Ukraine has been defending itself against large-scale Russian military aggression for over four years. Even before the American-Israeli attack on Iran, diplomatic efforts led by the United States to end the Russian-Ukrainian conflict gained momentum.
The key point of contention remains Russia’s demand for the release of the entire Ukrainian Donbass, including the part that the Russian army has been unable to conquer since the beginning of the invasion despite high losses. Ukraine refuses to give up its territory and proposes that the ceasefire respect the existing front line. The three rounds of talks so far have not led to a breakthrough.
