Zelensky says Russia 'too confident' to consider any talks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia shows no willingness to enter ceasefire negotiations, even as US envoys visited Kyiv for the first time to discuss a peace plan — with no clear breakthrough in sight.

At a joint press conference with Trump's envoys on Sunday (local time), Zelensky said Russia "still appears too confident to consider any form of talks," adding that "we must do everything possible to make a trilateral meeting happen," according to Ukraine's presidential office.

He said Russia is placing greater weight on military pressure than on diplomacy. Zelensky predicted that "after the general election in Russia, mobilization targeting only the eastern front will take place."

The US-mediated trilateral ceasefire negotiations among Ukraine, Russia and the United States had been ongoing until February before stalling in the wake of developments in the Middle East. Observers say that even if talks resume, progress will be difficult given the wide gap between the two sides over eastern territories including the Donbas region.

"The territorial issue remains a critical matter," Zelensky said. "I believe these complex issues can only be resolved at the summit level." He has repeatedly proposed holding a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in a neutral third country, but the Kremlin has in effect rejected the idea, insisting that anyone seeking talks must come to Moscow.

The meeting also appeared to address Trump's earlier pledge to supply Patriot air defense systems. At the NATO summit held in Ankara, Turkey, in July, Trump offered Ukraine a production license for Patriot missiles, only to walk back the commitment less than a month later, saying he was "not sure."

Zelensky said the United States plans to increase production of Patriot interceptor missiles next year, adding, "We expect this equipment to be supplied." He also said Ukraine must develop its own ballistic missile defense system, stressing the need to build independent air defense capabilities. Ukraine plans to hold meetings soon with Norway, Canada and other countries on air defense support.

Zelensky also raised the question of European involvement, noting that national security advisers from the United Kingdom, France and Germany had taken part in the discussions. "We will do everything possible to restore a trilateral meeting that includes Europe," he said.

Meanwhile, Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner met Putin in Moscow over the weekend — their first meeting with the Russian president in eight months — before traveling to Kyiv to meet Zelensky. It was the first visit by a US envoy delegation to Kyiv. Russia and Ukraine agreed not to strike each other's capitals, Moscow and Kyiv, for three days beginning Saturday, timed to coincide with the envoys' back-to-back visits.

Zelensky held three rounds of talks with the envoys late into Sunday night to discuss a peace plan, but no clear breakthrough appeared to have been reached.