Key facts
- Kyrylo Budanov, chief of staff to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, expressed hope for renewed talks with Russia in September.
- Budanov indicated that U.S. representatives would likely be involved in these potential negotiations.
- Ukraine has been seeking to revive stalled peace talks, with further developments anticipated next month.
- President Zelenskiy had previously identified a window for U.S. mediation extending to the end of next summer.
- Ukraine, in conjunction with U.S. and European officials, has drafted proposals to present to Moscow.
Kyrylo Budanov, chief of staff to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, stated on Thursday that direct talks between Ukrainian and Russian teams could be held in September, with the inclusion of U.S. representatives.
Budanov expressed hope for the revival of these negotiations, anticipating further developments next month. The U.S.-led peace talks had previously stalled as Ukraine resisted Russian demands for territorial concessions and as Washington's focus shifted towards the conflict with Iran.
"I'm hoping for that, yes, and American ones too, of course. We can't do without them," Budanov told Ukrainian media Novyny Live when asked about direct talks between Ukrainian and Russian negotiators.
President Zelenskiy recently noted that Ukraine perceived an opportunity for U.S. mediation until the end of next summer. Ukraine has drafted a one-page outline of ideas, developed with U.S. and European officials, intended for presentation to Moscow.
The last round of trilateral talks involving Ukraine, Russia, and the U.S. took place in February. Since then, Ukrainian and Russian representatives have engaged in separate discussions with the U.S. team.