Zelenskiy hints at difficulties in ending war negotiations with Russia and expects Patriot support

“Russia still appears to be too confident to consider any form of talks,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

According to the Ukrainian President's Office on the 7th (local time), President Zelenskyy said this at a joint press conference with U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy the previous day, saying, "We must do everything possible to ensure that three-party talks can take place."

At the same time, he claimed that Russia is focusing on military pressure rather than diplomatic efforts, saying, "In Russia, after the elections (general elections) are over, mobilization will be aimed only at the eastern front." The three-party war ending negotiations, with the United States participating as a mediator, were held until February of this year, but were suspended due to the aftermath of the Middle East crisis.

Even if the three-party end-of-war negotiations are resumed, difficulties are expected to be inevitable due to the large difference in positions between the two sides over the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine.

“The territorial issue is still an important issue,” President Zelensky said. “I think these complex issues can only be resolved at the top level.” President Zelenskyy has repeatedly suggested to Russian President Vladimir Putin that the summit be held in a neutral third country, but the Kremlin has effectively refused to hold a summit in a third country, saying, "If you want a meeting, come to Moscow."

It appears that President Trump's promised support for the Patriot air defense system was also discussed at the meeting with the U.S. special envoy. At the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit held in Turkye Ankara last July, President Trump promised to give Ukraine a license to produce Patriot missiles, but less than a month later, he took a step back, saying, "I'm not sure."

President Zelensky said, "The United States plans to increase production of Patriot interceptor missiles next year, and we look forward to the supply of this equipment."

He emphasized, “We must develop Ukraine’s own ballistic missile defense system.” Ukraine plans to hold a meeting with Norway and Canada regarding air defense network support in the near future.

President Zelensky said, "We will do everything possible to restore the tripartite meeting with European participation," referring to the participation of national security advisers from Britain, France, and Germany in the previous discussion with the U.S. envoy.

Steve Witkoff, President Trump's special envoy, and Jared Kushner, President Trump's eldest son-in-law, visited Moscow and Kiev last weekend and had a series of meetings with President Putin and then President Zelensky.

This is the first visit by U.S. envoys to Kiiu. President Zelensky held three meetings with U.S. envoys until late the previous day to discuss ways to end the war, but it appears that no breakthrough was found to end the war early.