Ukraine and US conclude talks as Zelensky urges sanctions pressure on Russia
Washington has temporarily lifted some sanctions on Russian oil to help cope with supply shortages caused by war in Iran
Ukrainian and US delegations concluded a second day of talks in Florida on finding ways to end the four-year war with Russia, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday.
Russian representatives were not present at the talks, which opened in Florida on Saturday. They were originally expected to attend the negotiations, which were expected to take place in Abu Dhabi.
The US team is led by special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law.
“It is clear that the US side’s attention at the moment is focused primarily on the situation surrounding Iran and the wider region but Russia’s war against Ukraine must also be brought to an end,” Zelensky said in an evening address.
“There are indications that further [prisoner of war] exchanges may take place, which would indeed be very good news and confirmation that diplomacy is working. We hope this will come to fruition,” he added.
Zelensky did not specify whether the talks would continue, when or where they might take place, or in what format.