The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, announced this Thursday (22) at the World Economic Forum in Davos that the Kiev negotiating team will meet, this Friday (22) and Saturday (23), with US and Russian delegations in the United Arab Emirates to advance the path towards a negotiated end to the war in Ukraine.
“I believe it is the first trilateral meeting in the United Arab Emirates, and it will be tomorrow and the day after tomorrow,” said Zelensky while answering questions after his speech at the international meeting held in the Swiss city of Davos.
“I hope the UAE knows this. Sometimes we have these surprises from the American side,” said the Ukrainian president, implying that this unexpected diplomatic initiative is being led by Washington.
“I think it’s positive that this meeting starts at a tactical level,” declared Zelensky, adding that “the Russians need to be ready to find compromises, because the whole world needs to be ready, not just Ukraine.”
“It is better to have meetings than not to have any type of dialogue”, added the Ukrainian president about the conversations, remembering that his country, despite diplomatic efforts, continues to be under daily bombings by Russia against civilians and energy infrastructures.
These attacks forced thousands of people in Ukraine to face, without the necessary protection, the sub-zero temperatures of this winter, which has been harsher than usual.
Regarding plans for the meeting in the Emirates, Zelensky explained that the American negotiating team will meet first with their Ukrainian counterparts and then with the Russian side.
The announcement comes after the head of state of Ukraine met for almost an hour in Davos, this Thursday, with US President Donald Trump.
“We would like to end this war tomorrow, but if it continues, Russia will see its army reduced and Putin will have to carry out a new mobilization,” concluded Zelensky.
