The president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, noted this Tuesday that he trusts to hold a meeting in about two weeks with the president of the United States, Donald Trump, with the aim of discussing a possible supply of air defense systems. At the same time, he considered it feasible that trilateral talks with Russia will resume shortly, following the visit to Kiev by representatives from Washington who are seeking to unblock the negotiating process.
In this way, he emphasized that he conveyed to Trump's envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Kiev's priorities regarding air defense during the meeting held on Sunday in Ukraine. "They listened in detail to what we need and when we need it. I expect to hold a meeting with Trump on the 20th (of September) to address this issue," he detailed.
"In my opinion, we are moving towards a trilateral format. I cannot give all the details, but we have agreed with the Americans that this will be prepared and then we will communicate it," he stated at a press conference, according to the Ukrainian news agency UNIAN.
In this line, he pointed out that the possible trilateral meeting between Ukraine, the United States, and Russia "could take place in the United Arab Emirates, Switzerland, Turkey, or another country," and emphasized that the central axes would be energy, grain trade, and "humanitarian issues," among which is a new exchange of prisoners of war.
"Grain and energy are painful issues for Ukraine and Russia, and they are painful issues for the whole world," he maintained. "It is very important that we meet in this situation, in which both Ukraine and Russia have to take steps. It cannot be expected that only Ukraine will accept compromises. Ukraine has already accepted many," he explained.
Furthermore, Zelensky highlighted that the decision of Witkoff and Kushner to travel to Kiev —in their first visit to the country since the beginning of the invasion in February 2022— demonstrates that Ukraine "is stronger on the battlefield and has a stronger negotiating position."
"This is something that the American delegation has also said, and their analysts and military recognize it. It is a fact," he stressed. "In 2026 we are stronger on the battlefield. Russia has many losses and few advances," he reiterated, according to the Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform.