Zelensky says US too often asks Ukraine, not Russia, for concessions

KYIV – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed hope on Feb 14 that US-brokered peace talks next week in Geneva will be serious and substantive, but he voiced concern that Ukraine was being asked “too often” to make concessions in the negotiations.

“We truly hope that the trilateral meetings next week will be serious, substantive, helpful for all of us, but honestly, sometimes it feels like the sides are talking about completely different things,” Mr Zelensky said in a speech at the Munich Security Conference.

The Ukrainian leader said he was feeling “a little bit” of pressure from US President Donald Trump, who on Feb 13 said Mr Zelensky should not miss the “opportunity” to make peace soon.

“The Americans often return to the topic of concessions, and too often, those concessions are discussed only in the context of Ukraine, not Russia,” Mr Zelensky said.

However, he added that he hoped the US would stay involved in the negotiations, and that there would be an opportunity for Europe, which he said was currently sidelined, to play a bigger role.

Mr Zelensky has in the past expressed concern that US Congressional mid-term elections could focus the Trump administration on domestic political issues after the summer.

Ukraine and Russia have engaged in two recent rounds of talks brokered by Washington in Abu Dhabi, which were described by the sides as constructive but did not achieve any major breakthroughs.

Russia said its delegation to Geneva would be led by Putin adviser Vladimir Medinsky, a change from Abu Dhabi where Russia’s team was led by military intelligence chief Igor Kostyukov.

Ukrainian sources have previously criticised Mr Medinsky’s handling of the talks, accusing him of delivering history lessons to the Ukrainian team instead of engaging in substantive negotiations. REUTERS