By Gao Yun
U.S. President Donald Trump spoke to reporters on the White House lawn on Friday, Feb. 13, saying that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky must accelerate peace negotiations with Russia, or he risks missing an important diplomatic window.
Trump said: “Russia wants to reach an agreement, and Zelensky must take action, or he will miss an excellent opportunity. He has to act.”
Since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, the war has continued, with the United States attempting to push for negotiations through diplomatic channels to end the conflict. Although multiple rounds of talks have been held in places such as Abu Dhabi, no substantial progress has been made toward a ceasefire or a lasting peace agreement.
Recently, delegations from Ukraine, the U.S., and Russia held tripartite talks. However, the results were limited, with an agreement reached only on the exchange of prisoners of war, while key issues such as territorial control, security guarantees, and sovereignty remain unresolved.
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Mutual prisoner release
According to the BBC, the agreement stipulates that both Russia and Ukraine release 157 prisoners each, totaling 314 people. This exchange occurred shortly after the second day of the tripartite talks held in the capital of the United Arab Emirates.
Reuters noted that Ukraine and Russia still have significant differences over territorial control and the future status of disputed areas in eastern Ukraine. European leaders and NATO allies have repeatedly emphasized that any peace solution must fully respect international law and Ukraine’s right to self-determination. At the same time, they are coordinating diplomatic strategies with Washington.
Earlier this month, in an interview with The Atlantic, Zelensky said that Ukraine supports U.S.-proposed peace initiatives and hopes to advance negotiations and accelerate the potential conclusion of an agreement. He also emphasized that once an effective ceasefire and international guarantee mechanisms are in place, Ukraine is willing to proceed with elections and broader democratic processes.
Russia has maintained a relatively cautious stance. The Kremlin stated that Russia is willing to engage in dialogue as long as Moscow’s strategic interests are protected. However, details of Russia’s specific position in the negotiations remain limited publicly.
In December last year, U.S. officials told the Associated Press on condition of anonymity that Russia indicated it would not oppose Ukraine joining the European Union and considered this a potential component of a peace solution.
Kremlin: Next round of talks to take place next week
Reuters reported that the Kremlin stated on Friday that the next round of peace negotiations on Ukraine is expected to take place next week, though the specific location has not yet been announced.
However, three sources familiar with the arrangements revealed that U.S. officials have proposed holding a tripartite meeting in Miami on Monday and Tuesday next week. The proposal is still under coordination and has not received official confirmation.
Additionally, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Russia and the U.S. have recently been discussing bilateral trade and economic cooperation.
Peskov emphasized, however, that Moscow hopes these discussions can continue, but until the Ukraine conflict is resolved, such economic cooperation is unlikely to go beyond verbal discussions and is unlikely to achieve substantive progress.
Meanwhile, ground fighting in eastern Ukraine continues, with occasional escalations of shelling and drone attacks.
