President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Ukraine is waiting for concrete details from the United States about future peace talks and expects meetings next week. His nightly address suggested a planned Sunday session in the UAE may not go ahead after a round of talks last week. U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff met Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev in Florida and called the discussions "productive and constructive." Territorial disputes over the Donbas region remain the central sticking point, though Moscow says land is not the only issue.
Zelenskiy: Ukraine Poised For New Peace Talks Next Week As It Awaits US Details
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy arrives for a meeting with Cyprus' President Nikos Christodoulides at the Presidential Palace in Nicosia, Cyprus January 7, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Saturday that Ukraine is awaiting further details from the United States about upcoming peace negotiations and is preparing for meetings expected next week.
In his nightly video address, Zelenskiy's comments suggested that a meeting planned for Sunday in the United Arab Emirates among representatives of Ukraine, Russia and the United States may not proceed after a round of talks held a week earlier.
"We are in constant communication with the American side and are expecting specific details from them regarding further meetings," Zelenskiy said.
"Ukraine is ready to work in all working formats. It is important that there be results and that the meetings take place. We are counting on meetings next week and are preparing for them."
U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff led a delegation in talks in Florida on Saturday with Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev and described the discussions as "productive and constructive." The United States has been spearheading diplomatic efforts to end the war that began nearly four years ago with Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Witkoff has identified territorial questions as central to making progress in negotiations. Kyiv rejects Moscow's demand that it cede the entirety of the Donbas region, including areas not under Russian control. Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov said this week that land is not the only issue under discussion but did not specify other unresolved matters.
For now, Zelenskiy indicated that the timing and format of any next round of talks hinge on concrete proposals and scheduling details from the U.S. side. Kyiv stresses that any talks must produce verifiable results.
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