Zelensky Awaits US Response as Kyiv Pushes for Second Round of Russia Talks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on Saturday that his negotiators were waiting to hear from the US side about additional discussions to end the war with Russia.

Zelensky Says Ukraine Ready for Next Round of Talks

This follows the first direct trilateral discussions between the US, Russia, and Ukraine on January 23 in Abu Dhabi, as part of US President Donald Trump’s efforts to resolve the almost four-year-old war. Zelensky’s comments imply that a second round of discussions, planned to begin in Abu Dhabi on Sunday (Feb 1), may have been stalled.

Zelensky said, “Ukraine is ready to work in any working format.””It is critical that there are results and that meetings take place.” We are planning for meetings next week.”

Zelensky Comments Come Amid US–Russia Diplomatic Engagement

On Saturday, US ambassador Steve Witkoff met with Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev in Florida and reported “productive and constructive” talks.Today in Florida, Russian Special Envoy Kirill Dmitriev held productive and constructive

conversations as part of the US mediation effort to advance a peaceful conclusion to the Ukrainian conflict,” Witkoff wrote on X. “This conference gave us hope that Russia will strive to restore peace in Ukraine.

Zelensky Hints at Possible Changes to Meeting Schedule

Last week, Ukrainian and Russian officials held their first in-person talks in Abu Dhabi. While they had agreed to restart talks on Sunday (February 1), Zelensky suggested on Thursday (January 29) that the date and location of the meetings could change due to rising tensions between the United States and Iran.

Trump on Zelensky–Putin Relations and Peace Prospects

Meanwhile, on Friday (Jan 30), Trump stated that Ukrainian and Russian officials despise each other, making it harder to strike a compromise.

“Zelensky and Putin dislike each other, making matters difficult. But I feel we are very close to a conclusion,” he said. He did, however, add, “I think that we have a good chance of getting it settled.”

Zelensky Conflict: Trump Says Putin Agreed to Temporary Pause in Attacks

Earlier on Thursday (Jan 29), Trump said he had begged Russian President Vladimir Putin to halt attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian towns, as millions of people were left without heat due to the country’s “extreme” cold snap.

“Because of the cold, extreme cold… I personally asked President Putin not to fire on Kyiv and the cities and towns for a week during this,” Trump told a White House cabinet meeting. “They’ve never experienced such cold. And I personally requested that President Putin refrain from firing on Kyiv and surrounding towns for a week. And he consented to do so, and I have to say, it was extremely wonderful.”