Concern about the coming winter is driving the push. “It will be a tough winter if the war does not stop”, a US source told Axios, adding that Washington is trying to mediate between the sides to produce a unified proposal.
Voice of America, citing a senior administration official, reported that the plan covers all aspects of the conflict. Axios said the agenda includes security guarantees for Ukraine and a post-war development plan, building on ideas US negotiators began developing with Russians and Ukrainians on their last visit to the region.
Kyrylo Budanov, head of the president’s office, and Rustem Umerov, head of the Foreign Intelligence Service, are expected to lead Ukraine’s delegation. National security advisers from France, Germany and Britain will attend, along with EU representatives.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday that the talks would run Friday and Saturday and that Kyiv would raise air defence.
The last three-way talks between the US, Ukraine and Russia took place in February. Since then, Kyiv and Moscow have dealt with the Americans only separately.
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Source: PAP