Imagine a world where two superpowers, Ukraine and Russia, are at odds, with the United States trying to broker a peace deal. That’s the reality we’re facing today.
Next week, officials from Ukraine and the US will meet in Saudi Arabia, while Russian officials will also meet with their US counterparts on the same day. This dual meeting is a significant step towards ending the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, which has been raging for over three years.
The latest development comes as the US tries to negotiate a ceasefire between the two nations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently revealed that his officials would meet with US officials in Saudi Arabia on Monday, March 24. Meanwhile, the Russian government confirmed that their officials would also meet with US officials on the same day.
Zelenskyy emphasized that Russia must stop making unreasonable demands that only prolong the war. He was responding to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s conditions for a ceasefire, which included a demand for Ukraine’s allies to stop providing military aid.
The Ukrainian president also warned that taking the issue of Ukraine’s NATO membership off the table, as Moscow has demanded, would be a significant concession to Russia.
In recent days, both Putin and Zelenskyy have spoken with US President Donald Trump, agreeing to the principle of a ceasefire, but its implementation has been hindered by conflicting conditions.
The Russian leader has agreed to stop bombing Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, railways, and ports, but these attacks continue to this day.
When asked about the possibility of the US taking ownership of a nuclear power plant in Ukraine, which is currently under Russian control, Zelenskyy rejected the idea outright.
The Ukrainian leader stated that he had not discussed the ownership of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant with Trump during their phone call on Wednesday and emphasized that all nuclear power plants in Ukraine belong to the Ukrainian people.
However, Zelenskyy did not rule out the possibility of the US helping to retake the plant from Russia and investing in its modernization.
When asked if he was willing to compromise on the territories occupied by Russia, including Crimea, Zelenskyy reaffirmed that Crimea is part of Ukraine and that the peninsula belongs to his country.
Regarding the ceasefire, Zelenskyy said that the first step would be to stop all hostilities on land and at sea, which Ukraine sees as a crucial step in ending Russian aggression.
Source: BBC