Ukraine and the US have agreed on the next steps in diplomatic talks aimed at ending the war. Initially, the Ukrainian and American negotiating teams will hold consultations with their European partners, after which Washington will engage with the Russian side over a period of ten days. Kyiv and Washington are then due to resume discussions, taking into account the results of these contacts, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated.
Briefly about the main points
- Ukraine and the US have agreed on the next steps in the negotiations.
- Consultations with European partners will take place first.
- The US will hold separate talks with Russia.
- In about 10 days’ time, the parties will resume their discussions.
What is the negotiation plan agreed between Ukraine and the US?
On the new sequence of diplomatic contacts Zelensky told journalists on Friday, 25 September.
According to him, during meeting with the US President Donald Trump In New York, the leaders discussed general issues. Following this, the negotiating teams from the two countries held a separate, lengthy meeting, during which they examined the proposals in greater detail.
Zelenskyy outlined the next steps as follows: Ukraine and the US are to inform and consult with the European side, after which the American team will engage with Russia.
«The Americans will talk to the Russians, and in 10 days» time we’ll be back with one view or another and with a result,” said Zelenskyy.
The President did not specify what form this outcome should take, nor whether a date had already been set for the next round of trilateral talks.
Prior to that, Zelenskyy and Trump met in New York
The meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump took place on 22 September on the sidelines of the General Assembly UN in New York. The President’s Office reported that the parties had discussed de-escalation measures that could pave the way for diplomacy, as well as the issue of Ukraine’s defence ahead of winter.
Following the meeting, the Ukrainian and US negotiating teams continued their work separately. The US delegation included, amongst others, Trump’s special representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who had previously held talks in Moscow and Kyiv.
The US proposes three steps towards de-escalation
At the same time, Washington is putting forward several specific proposals aimed at de-escalating the conflict.
Zelenskyy previously told Axios that the US side is proposing a mutual cessation of attacks on energy infrastructure, the resumption of the Black Sea Grain Corridor, and a trilateral meeting between the US, Ukraine and Russia.
Kyiv has announced that willingness to mutually cease hostilities on energy facilities. The US side has suggested Abu Dhabi as one possible venue for the trilateral talks. However, no final agreement has yet been reached on the date or format of such a meeting.
What is due to happen over the next 10 days
Zelenskyy’s statement outlines the sequence of the next stage of the negotiation process:
- The Ukrainian and American sides will discuss the proposals they have drawn up with their European partners.
- The US will hold talks with the Russian side.
- Following this, the Ukrainian and US negotiating teams will reassess the positions of the parties and the prospects for further negotiations.
The next ten days should therefore be used for separate consultations with Europe and Russia. It has not yet been announced whether these will lead to a new trilateral meeting or a specific agreement on de-escalation.
