Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Sunday that Ukraine is prepared to engage in trilateral negotiations with the United States and Russia later this month. The statement was made during a press conference in Kyiv alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, emphasizing Kyiv’s support for an expedited timeline to resume peace discussions after more than four and a half years of conflict.
While US efforts to broker a ceasefire were temporarily suspended due to Washington’s military operations against Iran, Zelenskyy revealed that the US is now pressing for technical-level discussions to conclude by the end of October. He confirmed reports suggesting the United Arab Emirates could host the meeting, noting that Kyiv remains open to holding talks in the UAE or another venue proposed by American officials.
Zelenskyy stated he had confirmed to Washington his side’s readiness to adhere to the proposed schedule. Moscow has previously indicated it has not ruled out three-way talks this month.
Despite signals of willingness to negotiate, both nations have announced plans to intensify long-range strikes against military and associated infrastructure. Russia has targeted Ukraine’s energy sector as winter approaches, echoing tactics from last year that left millions without power and heating during extreme cold. Zelenskyy expressed astonishment at what he described as Russia’s “savage desire to escalate” daily, specifically citing attacks on civilian infrastructure such as data centers and mobile networks.
Meanwhile, India signaled its intention to increase its role in mediating the war. Speaking at the Munich Security Conference in New Delhi, Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar highlighted his country’s growing involvement, particularly regarding shipping safety in the Black Sea. He added that India is expanding its diplomatic efforts to include discussions on grain and energy exports, as well as exploring possibilities to prevent further attacks.
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