Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he held detailed discussions with US envoys in Madrid, as negotiators from Kyiv, Moscow and Washington prepare for the first three-way talks since February. The meetings come alongside a planned White House gathering at which Melania Trump’s office said she would bring representatives of Russia and Ukraine together; last month, she announced a localised truce between Ukrainian and Russian forces.
Zelensky said in a post on X that he had a detailed, hour-and-a-half-long conversation with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. 'The negotiations must move forward at full throttle to bring this war to an end as quickly as possible. Ukraine is ready to take the necessary steps,' he wrote.
The flurry of diplomacy comes as Russia's full-scale invasion grinds through its fifth year. A recent rapprochement between Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin has raised concerns the US could turn its back on Kyiv.
Melania Trump's office said she would bring representatives of Russia and Ukraine together at the White House, without specifying a date. Russia's Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, quoted by state-owned TASS, said adviser Kirill Dmitriev and human rights ombudsman Yana Lantratova would meet the US first lady 'provided that all logistical arrangements work out'. Ukraine's human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets announced he was heading to Washington, asking on Facebook what message to convey to the first lady.
Negotiators from Ukraine, Russia and the United States are preparing to meet in Abu Dhabi on 10 and 11 November for the first talks between all three sides since February. Meetings are also being held in Brussels between representatives of the European Union, the United Kingdom, NATO and the United States.
Zelensky awarded Melania Trump a national honour for her role in brokering a partial ceasefire that allowed residents of Oleshky on the southern front to leave.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The involvement of the First Lady in brokering high-stakes diplomacy represents an unusual expansion of the role and signals direct White House engagement in the conflict.
- Direct trilateral talks for the first time since the full-scale war began could create a framework for de-escalation or territorial negotiation.
- The parallel tracks, Washington, Abu Dhabi, and Brussels, indicate a concentrated but complicated peace initiative from the Trump administration.
Background
Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. The war has devastated Ukrainian cities and caused a global energy and food crisis. Relations between the US under President Trump and Russia have recently warmed, prompting Ukrainian concerns about being pressured into an unfavourable settlement.
Key Perspectives
- Volodymyr Zelensky: Has stated Ukraine is ready to take the necessary steps for peace and wants negotiations to move at full throttle.
- Melania Trump: Has established herself as a diplomatic broker, securing a localized ceasefire in Oleshky and being awarded a Ukrainian national honour.
- Kremlin (via Dmitry Peskov): Indicated willingness to attend talks hosted by the First Lady, contingent on logistical arrangements.
- Dmytro Lubinets (Ukrainian Ombudsman): Traveling to the US for the talks and seeking public input on what message to deliver to Melania Trump.
What to Watch
- The Abu Dhabi talks on 10-11 November, which will be the first direct three-way negotiations.
- The conditions under which Russia and Ukraine agree to meet at the White House.
Checked
11 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedMelania Trump is to host a meeting bringing representatives of Ukraine and Russia together at the White House.RTÉ News: “His remarks came after Melania Trump's White House office said the US first lady would bring representatives of Russia and Ukraine together at the White House, without specifying a date.”
- SupportedThe first talks between Ukraine, Russia and the United States since February are set for Abu Dhabi on 10 and 11 November.RTÉ News: “negotiators from Ukraine, Russia and the United States prepare to meet in Abu Dhabi on 10 and 11 November for the first talks between all three sides since February.”
- SupportedZelensky said he had a detailed conversation with US envoys in Madrid.RTÉ News: “Mr Zelensky said in a post on X yesterday evening, during a visit to Madrid.”
- SupportedZelensky said he had a detailed, hour-and-a-half-long conversation with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.RTÉ News: “"We just had a very detailed, hour-and-a-half-long conversation with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner," Mr Zelensky said in a post on X yesterday evening”
- SupportedZelensky wrote: “The negotiations must move forward at full throttle to bring this war to an end as quickly as possible. Ukraine is ready to take the necessary steps.”RTÉ News: “"The negotiations must move forward at full throttle to bring this war to an end as quickly as possible. Ukraine is ready to take the necessary steps," he said.”
- SupportedThe war is in its fifth year, and a recent rapprochement between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin has raised concerns the US could turn its back on Kyiv.RTÉ News: “Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine grinds through its fifth year, and a recent rapprochement between presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin has raised concerns the US could turn its back on Kyiv.”
- SupportedMelania Trump announced a localised truce between Ukrainian and Russian forces last month.RTÉ News: “Melania Trump last month announced a localised truce between Ukrainian and Russian forces”
- SupportedPeskov said Dmitriev and Lantratova would meet the US first lady “provided that all logistical arrangements work out”, as reported by state-owned TASS.RTÉ News: “Moscow's adviser for international economic cooperation Kirill Dmitriev and human rights ombudsman Yana Lantratova will meet the US first lady "provided that all logistical arrangements work out", Russia's state-owned TASS news agency reported, citing Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.”
- SupportedUkraine's human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said he was heading to Washington and asked on Facebook what message to convey to Melania Trump.RTÉ News: “Ukraine's human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets announced he would also be meeting Melania Trump in Washington. "I am heading to Washington. Important meetings lie ahead. But while I am on the road, I want to ask you something: If you could convey a single message to US First Lady Melania Trump, what would you say to her?", Mr Lubinets wrote on Facebook.”
- SupportedMeetings are also being held in Brussels between representatives of the EU, UK, NATO and the US.RTÉ News: “Meetings are also being held in Brussels between representatives of the European Union, the United Kingdom, NATO and the United States.”
- SupportedZelensky awarded Melania Trump a national honour for brokering a partial ceasefire that allowed Oleshky residents to leave.RTÉ News: “Mr Zelensky awarded Melania Trump a national honour for her role in brokering the partial ceasefire.”