Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke to journalists about the US plans to end the Russian war against Ukraine. He made this statement and others after trilateral meetings among Ukraine, the United States, and Russia on February 4 and 5 in Abu Dhabi.
US proposals
The President of Ukraine said that the US delegation proposed a meeting between the negotiating teams of Ukraine and Russia. Delegations are probably going to meet in Miami in a week. According to Zelenskyy, Ukraine has confirmed its participation in the talks. Zelenskyy also reported that the United States proposed another energy ceasefire.
“America proposed that both sides once again support the de-escalation initiative of the President of the United States regarding energy. Ukraine confirmed it, but Russia has not yet. They usually go to Russia first and then deliver the response,” the President of Ukraine said.
The previous ceasefire that Trump proposed on January 29 was supposed to last for a week. However, on the night of February 3, Russia attacked Ukraine using 521 aerial assault weapons, including air- and ground-launched missiles, as well as strike drones. Zelenskyy then said that Russia responded to Trump’s proposal with a “ballistic record.” He also emphasized that less than four days had passed out of the week that had been agreed upon. On the same day, Donald Trump said that Putin had kept his word on stopping attacks. In his view, the ceasefire lasted long enough.
Ceasefire monitoring
The United States confirmed that it would take part in monitoring the ceasefire.
“The military held a conversation and understand how – if politicians make a decision to end the war – the monitoring of the ceasefire will technically take place by Ukraine, Russia, and with monitoring from the United States. So the US confirms its participation,” Zelenskyy said.
He added that delegations are currently working on the details of the technical support for monitoring. The US position does not exclude Europe from the process.
Exchanges of prisoners will continue
Zelenskyy stated that exchanges of prisoners will continue. During the trilateral meeting, the sides agreed on the first exchange of 2026, which took place on February 5. A total of 157 people returned to Ukraine from Russian captivity: 150 military personnel and 7 civilians.
The United States proposed ending the Russian-Ukrainian war before the beginning of summer. According to Zelenskyy, Americans will then have another priority – special elections to Congress.
“In principle, we have long proposed to the American side to have a truly clear Sequence Plan. So that everyone understands what the sides are agreeing to, at what moment, and at what stages,” Zelenskyy said.
The American delegation also proposed creating a free economic zone in Donetsk region. Zelenskyy noted that Ukraine could agree to this proposal if the rules are fair and reliable.
Earlier, The Ukrainian Review reported about the results of the second round of trilateral talks. According to The New York Times, “the prisoner exchange was only a minor reward for months of negotiations by the Trump administration.”
