President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv stands ready for the next trilateral peace talks with the US and Russia-but Washington and Moscow must agree on timing and location. The US proposed hosting talks in America next week; Russia declined.
“We are waiting for a response from the Americans. Either they will change the country where we meet, or the Russians must confirm a meeting in the US,” Zelenskyy said in a Saturday media briefing.
Peace negotiations previously held in the United Arab Emirates were paused after the Iran war erupted in late February following US-Israeli strikes. Zelenskyy warned that Middle East escalation risks diverting global attention-and critical air defense supplies-from Ukraine’s war against Russia.
He noted eleven countries have requested Ukrainian expertise countering Shahed-type drones, but Kyiv will only assist those supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty and civilian protection.
Zelenskyy also rebutted former President Trump’s claim that the US doesn’t need Ukraine’s drone technology-saying Washington has reached out to Kyiv “several times.” He reiterated his push for a $35-50 billion security and industrial partnership deal, questioning why the US has not signed it.
Meanwhile, Russian attacks intensified: over the past week, Ukraine faced 1,770 attack drones, 1,530 guided aerial bombs, and 86 missiles-including more than 20 ballistic missiles. Overnight into Sunday, 97 drones struck; 90 were intercepted. Five people were killed across Kherson, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia; six injured in Sumy and Dnipropetrovsk; one killed in Chernihiv.