"We have arrived in the United States. Along with Rustem Umerov, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, and negotiator David Arakhamia, we will have serious discussions with our American partners about the details of a peace agreement," Kyrylo Budanov, Chief of Staff to the President of Ukraine, announced today.
Ukrainian officials stated that the US delegation would include Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump's special envoy; Daniel Driscoll, Secretary of the Army; and Jared Kushner, his son-in-law.
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Kyrylo Budanov at the Office of the President of Ukraine on 2/1. Photo: X/ZelenskyyUa. |
The Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States previously stated that the negotiations would focus on commitments for Ukraine's security guarantees and post-war reconstruction. President Volodymyr Zelensky, on 16/1, expressed hope that Ukraine would sign an agreement with the United States next week.
This development occurs days after US President Donald Trump suggested that his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, intends to end the conflict, which has lasted almost 4 years. President Trump also criticized his counterpart, Zelensky, as the reason why US-mediated negotiation efforts have not yet been able to end the hostilities.
The statement suggests that the US leader appears frustrated with Zelensky. The relationship between the two leaders has long been volatile, despite gradual improvements during Trump's first year back in power.
In recent weeks, parties have focused negotiations on security guarantees for Ukraine to prevent Russia from resuming operations after a peace agreement. The United States is pressuring Ukraine to accept ceding territory it still controls in the Donbass region, including Donetsk and Lugansk provinces, to reach an agreement with Russia, according to Reuters.
President Zelensky has rejected the possibility of territorial concessions to Russia, emphasizing that the Ukrainian constitution does not permit this. He proposed establishing a demilitarized zone in Donbass, a proposal Russia rejected.
Hong Hanh (According to AFP, Reuters)
