Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed support for ongoing peace negotiations but firmly stated that Ukraine will not agree to hold discussions in Russia or Belarus. In an interview with NBC News, Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine is ready to engage in talks anywhere else, citing Turkey or Switzerland as potential neutral locations.
He noted that the recent conflict in the Middle East has further complicated diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the ongoing war with Russia. Zelensky mentioned that a U.S. mediation team, led by Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, faced challenges in securing a neutral venue for negotiations outside the United States during the Iranian conflict.
U.S. representatives proposed holding trilateral talks in the U.S., but the Russian side showed reluctance to participate. Meanwhile, Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev traveled to Florida for preliminary discussions with American counterparts.
On March 21-22, Miami hosted bilateral talks between U.S. and Ukrainian delegations as part of Washington’s efforts to broker a peace deal. The Ukrainian team, led by Rustem Umerov, included key figures such as Kirilo Budanov, the head of the Office of the President, and David Arakhamia, the leader of the Servant of the People parliamentary faction.
Following the first day of discussions, Zelensky reported that the Ukrainian delegation met with U.S. representatives Witkoff and Kushner. Umerov highlighted that the meetings focused on aligning approaches for further progress toward practical outcomes.
Earlier, the Kremlin had announced that Russia would not participate in the latest peace negotiations regarding the conflict in the U.S.
On the second day of talks, Umerov stated that discussions centered on reliable security guarantees and humanitarian issues, including the exchange and return of Ukrainian citizens. Zelensky later indicated that there were signals of possible resumption of exchanges, describing it as a positive sign that diplomacy is making headway.
On March 23, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff characterized the negotiations as “constructive,” emphasizing that they focused on establishing a sustainable security framework for Ukraine and addressing critical humanitarian measures in the region.
Earlier, on February 17-18, Geneva hosted another round of trilateral negotiations involving Ukraine, the U.S., and Russia aimed at ending the war. Umerov reported that discussions were concentrated on practical matters and potential solutions.
During the Geneva talks, Umerov met separately with representatives from the U.S., France, the U.K., Germany, Italy, and Switzerland to synchronize approaches for the next steps. Witkoff remarked on the “significant progress” made during the initial day of discussions, with both sides agreeing to update their leaders and continue working toward a peace agreement.
On the second day of negotiations, Umerov described the discussions as “intense and substantive,” covering both political and military tracks. He noted that while some issues were clarified, others would require further coordination. The next step would involve achieving consensus to present the developed solutions to the respective presidents.
Russian delegation head Vladimir Medinsky characterized the negotiations as “challenging but businesslike.” Zelensky stated that the parties achieved a degree of “constructiveness” regarding ceasefire monitoring, with the U.S. committed to participating in this process. Umerov indicated that a new meeting would be scheduled soon following the Geneva talks.
Ukrainian President Zelensky has reiterated Ukraine's commitment to peace talks but refuses to negotiate in Russia or Belarus. Recent diplomatic efforts have been complicated by ongoing conflicts in the region, yet discussions continue in various international venues.