Zelensky says ready for talks

Volodymyr Zelensky said on May 20 that Ukraine was ready to resume talks with Russia in the coming weeks and wanted European governments brought back into the process alongside the United States. In his evening address, the Ukrainian president said Kyiv had maintained “good contacts” with Washington on security cooperation and diplomatic contacts with Russia, and that a return to “meaningful trilateral communication” would be the “right result” if Europeans were also involved. The remarks amount to a public push by Kyiv to widen the format of any renewed negotiations after earlier rounds involving Ukraine, the United States and Russia. Ukrainian presidency updates published on May 20 and May 21 also pointed to parallel contacts with European partners, including a call with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on the diplomatic track regarding Russia’s war. ### What exactly did Zelensky say on May 20? (kyivpost.com) Zelensky said in his May 20 address that Ukraine wanted to return to “meaningful trilateral communication” in the coming weeks and said European participation should be part of that effort. He said Ukraine was ready to take the necessary steps and added that he expected partners to be ready as well and that “the Russians will not hide.” Kyiv Post, citing the address, reported that the Ukrainian side saw a restart of talks with European participation as the preferred outcome. (kyivpost.com) The report said Zelensky described ongoing communication with Washington on both security cooperation and diplomatic contacts with Russia. ### Which European format is Kyiv trying to revive? Britain, France and Germany are the three European powers Ukrainian officials have linked to a revived “E3” diplomatic track, according to Kyiv Post and a May 19 Telegraph report surfaced in search results. (kyivpost.com) Kyiv Post said Ukrainian officials believed stronger European involvement could raise pressure on Moscow and help restart stalled diplomacy. The Ukrainian presidency did not use the term “E3” in the official website excerpts available in search results, but it did disclose a May 20 call between Zelensky and Starmer in which the two leaders coordinated positions “to reinvigorate substantive diplomacy.” That public readout is one of the clearest official signs that Kyiv is working European channels alongside its contacts with Washington. (kyivpost.com) ### What talks have already taken place? (kyivpost.com) Kyiv Post said a first round of trilateral talks between Ukraine, the United States and Russia took place on Jan. 24 in Abu Dhabi, followed by a second round in February, also in Abu Dhabi, before later discussions in Geneva. The same report said those negotiations later stalled amid other international tensions and continued disagreements over the Donetsk region. On May 7, Rustem Umerov, secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, met in the United States with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who were identified by Kyiv Post as special representatives of U.S. (president.gov.ua) President Donald Trump. Kyiv Post said Ukrainian officials described those talks as focused on humanitarian issues and ways to intensify the diplomatic process. ### Why is Kyiv talking about Europe now? (kyivpost.com) May 21 reporting by Kyiv Post said Ukrainian officials wanted broader European participation as questions grew over Washington’s effectiveness as a mediator. That characterization was attributed to Ukrainian officials in the report, not stated directly by Zelensky in the presidency excerpts available through official channels. The presidency’s own public schedule on May 20 and May 21 showed Zelensky in contact with European counterparts while also speaking about diplomacy in his nightly address. (kyivpost.com) In addition to the Starmer call, the official site said Zelensky spoke on May 21 with Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal about preparations in the NB8 format and the diplomatic and security situation. ### What should readers watch next? (kyivpost.com) The next indicator will be whether Kyiv, Washington and European capitals publicly confirm a new round of talks in the coming weeks. Zelensky’s May 20 address set that timeframe, and the Ukrainian presidency’s readouts show continued contact with Britain and other European partners as those discussions proceed. (kyivpost.com) (president.gov.ua)