Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Saturday that Kyiv is awaiting further details from the United States on upcoming peace talks, with new meetings expected to take place next week as diplomatic efforts to end the war continue.
Speaking during his nightly video address, Zelenskiy indicated that a previously expected meeting involving Ukraine, Russia, and the United States in the United Arab Emirates was unlikely to go ahead as planned, suggesting discussions were still being coordinated.
The comments highlight the central role Washington continues to play as it presses both sides toward negotiations nearly four years after Russia launched its full scale invasion of Ukraine.
Zelenskiy said Ukraine remained in close contact with US officials and stood ready to participate once concrete arrangements were confirmed.
“We are in constant communication with the American side and are expecting specific details from them regarding further meetings,” Zelenskiy said. He added that Kyiv was open to all working formats but stressed the importance of outcomes rather than symbolic dialogue.
“It is important that there be results and that the meetings take place. We are counting on meetings next week and are preparing for them,” he said.
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According to Reuters, Ukrainian officials have not publicly confirmed participation in a Sunday meeting in the UAE, despite reports that similar talks had been considered following a round of discussions held a week earlier.
Meanwhile, US envoy Steve Witkoff led talks in Florida on Saturday with Kremlin representative Kirill Dmitriev. Witkoff later described the discussions as “productive and constructive,” though no detailed outcomes were announced.
The United States has been leading international diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the conflict, coordinating with European allies while maintaining separate communication channels with Moscow.
Witkoff has previously identified territorial disputes as a central obstacle in negotiations. Ukraine has firmly rejected Russian demands that it surrender the entire Donbas region, including areas that remain under Ukrainian control.
Russia has signaled that negotiations involve more than territorial questions. Kremlin foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov said earlier this week that land was not the sole issue under discussion, though he did not specify what other matters remain unresolved.
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Analysts say key sticking points also include security guarantees for Ukraine, sanctions relief, and the future status of occupied territories, according to reporting by Reuters and the BBC.
Zelenskiy’s remarks suggest that diplomatic momentum may resume in the coming days once Washington provides clarity on the next steps. Ukrainian officials say they are preparing for further meetings while maintaining their position on sovereignty and territorial integrity.