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Zelenskiy tells Ukrainian media US sought postponement of latest talks on war settlement
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 13, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 13, 2026
Quick Summary
President Zelenskiy said on March 13 that the U.S. requested postponing the latest Ukraine‑Russia‑US trilateral talks, citing U.S. restrictions due to the Middle East situation; Russia offered alternative venues like Switzerland or Turkey.
Zelenskiy says US sought postponement of talks on war settlement, Ukrainian media reports
US Involvement in Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks
March 13 (Reuters) - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was quoted as saying on Friday the U.S. had sought a postponement of the latest round of three-sided talks on a settlement to Ukraine's four-year-old conflict with Russia.
Reasons for Postponement
Zelenskiy, whose comments were quoted by various Ukrainian media outlets at the end of a visit to France, said the U.S. side had said its negotiators were not permitted to leave the United States in view of circumstances in the Middle East.
He said discussions about the next round were akin to a soap opera "because of the war in the Middle East."
US Position on Meeting Location
"The Americans said they were ready to meet, but only in America as the war and the security situation barred them from leaving the U.S.," the state news agency Ukrinform quoted Zelenskiy as saying.
Proposals for Alternative Venues
The Ukrainian delegation, he said, was ready to meet in Miami or Washington, but Russia rejected the proposal and suggested meeting in Turkey or Switzerland, a proposal ruled out by the U.S.
"We immediately said that we were ready for a meeting next week, we are preparing for a meeting in America, in Switzerland, in Turkey, and even, if they are not afraid, in the Emirates," Zelenskiy was quoted as saying.
Future of the Negotiations
Ultimately, he said, staging the next round of talks depended on the U.S. side. Washington's negotiating team has been led by special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump's son-in-law.
White House Response
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Zelenskiy's remarks.
Background of the Talks
Ukraine and Russia have held two sets of U.S.-brokered talks in the United Arab Emirates since the beginning of the year and a further round in Geneva last month.
Main Sticking Point
The main sticking point remains territory and Russia's demand for Ukraine to give up parts of its Donbas region that Moscow's forces have not captured.
Reporting Credits
(Reporting by Ron Popeski and Oleksandr Kozhukhar; Editing by Chris Reese, Rod Nickel)
Key Takeaways
- •The U.S. reportedly sought to delay the latest round of trilateral settlement talks, citing that its negotiators were not allowed to travel amid Middle East tensions (yahoo.com).
- •Russia declined holding the talks in the U.S. and suggested alternative locations such as Switzerland or Turkey (yahoo.com).
- •This postponement highlights how geopolitical developments beyond Eastern Europe—specifically in the Middle East—can significantly disrupt urgent peace negotiations involving Ukraine and Russia (yahoo.com)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Zelenskiy tells Ukrainian media US sought postponement of latest talks on war settlement
1Why were the latest Ukraine-Russia settlement talks postponed?
President Zelenskiy stated that the US requested a postponement due to circumstances in the Middle East.
2Which countries were involved in the postponed settlement talks?
The talks involved the United States, Ukraine, and Russia.
3What alternative locations were suggested for the settlement talks?
Russia proposed Switzerland or Turkey as alternative sites for the talks.
4Who reported on President Zelenskiy's comments about the talks?
Ron Popeski and Oleksandr Kozhukhar reported on the comments, with editing by Chris Reese.
5Why did the US negotiators not attend the talks?
The US negotiators were not permitted to leave the United States due to issues related to the Middle East.
