Zelensky on negotiations with the US and the Russian attack on the Coca-Cola factory

In his Thursday evening speech, Zelensky said that he had held a meeting with the team responsible for negotiations with the representatives of the American president.

In practice, we remain in constant contact with them and are currently preparing for meetings. We have tentative dates. We hope to see representatives of the President of the United States here in Kiev, he said.

He added that the Ukrainian side received confirmation of the planned talks in Moscow and Kiev.

We are counting on a meeting in the coming days, noted the President of Ukraine.

Zelensky assured that Kiev is ready for talks "both substantively and at the appropriate level." He also emphasized that it is important for the US to continue active participation in the negotiation process.

The President of Ukraine also informed about the Russian drone attack on the Coca-Cola factory in the Kiev region.

Apparently Coca-Cola is such an enemy to them that they burn it with their shaheds. This is a clear signal from Russia to America, Zelensky said.

He announced that Ukraine would respond to Russian tactics with "asymmetric operations."

Conversation with Witkoff and Kushner

On Monday, Zelensky spoke by phone with Donald Trump's envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. According to the Ukrainian president, the possible date of their visit to Kiev, the situation on the front and Russian attacks on Ukraine were discussed.

On August 28, Zelensky said that the US administration had informed Kiev about recent meetings in Moscow. CIA Director John Ratcliffe went to the Russian capital on August 25.

"NYT": Talks about ending the war

According to The New York Times, Ratcliffe's conversations with representatives of the Russian secret services were intended to persuade the Kremlin to end the war against Ukraine. The head of the CIA was supposed to convince Russia to conclude an agreement before its military and economic situation deteriorated.

The NYT reported that, in the opinion of some Ukrainian authorities, Ratcliffe may be a more neutral mediator than Witkoff and Kushner. The daily noted that both envoys, who have so far been involved in ceasefire negotiations, are perceived in Kiev as people who are too close to the Russians.