Ukraine plans new talks with US amid pause on intelligence sharing
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Ukraine's leader Zelensky previously expressed his readiness to engage in peace negotiations, stating that he was "ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer" and that he wanted to "make things right" with Trump.
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Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the European leaders' summit to discuss Ukraine, hosted by Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer, at Lancaster House, London, Sunday March 2, 2025 (AP)
Ukraine has announced plans to hold fresh discussions with the United States following Washington's decision to suspend intelligence sharing, a move that has dealt a significant blow to Kiev as it continues to engage in an EU-backed war with Russia.
The development comes after a highly publicized and contentious meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and former US President Donald Trump last week, during which Trump reportedly criticized Zelensky in front of international media and abruptly ended the meeting.
In an evening address, Zelensky revealed that preparations for new talks are underway. "Today, Ukrainian and American teams began working on an upcoming meeting. We're seeing forward momentum," he said, without providing specific details about the timing or location of the discussions. Zelensky also confirmed his participation in a Brussels summit with EU leaders on Thursday.
The suspension of US intelligence sharing follows an earlier halt in military aid, raising concerns in Kiev and across Europe that Ukraine may face increased pressure to accept a peace settlement favorable to Moscow or risk losing critical American support.
Meanwhile, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said later on that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s latest statement is a positive step forward following failed negotiations with President Donald Trump last week, but it remains to be seen what happens next.
“President Zelenskyy did put out a statement yesterday, which we believe is a positive step forward, and Secretary National Security Adviser Mike Waltz has been talking to his Ukrainian counterpart, and so we're in the midst of this and we'll see what happens next,” Leavitt said during a press briefing.
Read more: US halted aid to Kiev without consulting NATO: Polish MFA
Zelensky has been working to repair relations and reaffirm Ukraine's commitment to achieving lasting peace. In a social media post following a call with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, he wrote, "We all want a safe future for our people. Not a temporary ceasefire, but an end to the war once and for all. With our coordinated efforts and US leadership, this is entirely achievable."
Earlier, Zelensky expressed his readiness to engage in peace negotiations, stating that he was "ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer" and that he wanted to "make things right" with Trump.
