Zelenskyy says U.S. proposed technical talks with Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the United States has proposed technical-level trilateral talks involving U.S., Ukrainian and Russian officials, with the United Arab Emirates suggested as the venue. Ukraine is waiting for Washington to set a date, and the proposal does not include the countries’ leaders, Zelenskyy said Friday. Zelenskyy also said he had urged U.S. President Donald Trump to ask Chinese leader Xi Jinping to use Beijing’s influence over Moscow to help end Russia’s war against Ukraine. He said he had not received feedback from the White House on Trump’s discussions with Xi and was awaiting information about their outcome. The available accounts do not establish whether China’s role was discussed. The proposed talks remain unscheduled, and the reports do not confirm that Russia and Ukraine have agreed to participate. Zelenskyy described the format as technical discussions among delegations rather than a meeting of national leaders. The United States has suggested the UAE as the location, according to his account.