LAST TIME Ukraine to hold “consultations” with the US in Switzerland to end the war / “We will not be an obstacle to peace”
Zelensky talking on the phone. Photo: Handout / AFP / Profimedia
Ukraine will soon hold consultations with the United States in Switzerland on ending Russia's war against Ukraine, a senior Ukrainian security official said on Saturday, cited by Reuters and France Presse.
“… we are starting consultations between senior officials of Ukraine and the United States on the possible parameters of a future peace agreement in Switzerland,” wrote Rustem Umerov, secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, on Telegram.
“We appreciate the participation of the American side and its availability for substantive discussions,” he said.
“Ukraine approaches this process with a clear understanding of its interests. This is a new stage of the dialogue that has been going on for several days and is mainly aimed at harmonizing our vision of the next steps,” added the senior official from Kyiv.
Umerov edited the Telegram post, without giving any reason, after he had previously mentioned in it that the talks would take place “with the participation of European partners”.
The Ukrainian announcement came as French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer discussed the US plan on Ukraine on Saturday in South Africa on the sidelines of the G20 summit.
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The delegation can negotiate with the US, Russia and “international partners”
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy approved the composition of the delegation for the talks in Switzerland, which will be led by his chief of staff and include high-ranking security officials, according to a statement published on Telegram by his office.
On Saturday, Zelensky signed the decree forming the delegation that will be responsible for participating “in the process of negotiations with the United States and other international partners of Ukraine, as well as with representatives of Russia.”
According to this decree, the delegation will be led by Zelenskiy's right-hand man, the head of the Presidential Administration, Andrii Iermak, and will include, among others, Umerov, the heads of the security and intelligence services and the chief of staff. That is, an essentially military delegation.
Zelensky also approved the instructions for the negotiations.
“Ukraine will never be an obstacle to peace, and representatives of the Ukrainian state will defend the legitimate interests of the Ukrainian people and the foundations of European security,” the presidency's statement said.
In a stark message to Ukrainians on Friday, Zelensky said the country “is facing a very difficult choice. It is one of the most difficult moments in our history.” The Kiev leader's signal came as Ukraine is being pressured by Donald Trump's administration to accept the peace plan negotiated by the United States with Russia.
Trump then confirmed that he had given Ukraine an ultimatum to accept his peace plan by next Thursday: “They're going to have to like it.”
For his part, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that he accepted the peace plan proposed by Trump, threatening Ukraine and claiming that it and its European allies are “still deluding themselves”.
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