Ukraine will send a delegation to the United States next week for high-level talks to address issues including air defense, energy cooperation, sanctions, and negotiations on frozen Russian assets, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Wednesday.
According to Zelensky, the delegation will be led by the Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko and include Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak and Presidential Advisor and Sanctions Policy Commissioner Vladyslav Vlasiuk.
“The topics are air defense, energy, and sanctions steps. The issue of frozen Russian assets in the US will also be discussed,” Zelensky said.
He added that Ukraine supports US President Donald Trump’s proposals aimed at ending the war and remains open to the format for dialogue outlined by the White House.
However, Zelensky stressed that Russia shows “no desire for peace,” but is instead intensifying its attacks on Ukraine to project an illusion of success.
“I believe our meeting, combined with real facts, gives President Trump a broader understanding that the Russians are selling him something they can’t deliver – they are simply lying,” Zelensky says.
“I don’t see any demonstration of real strength from them. What we see are terrorist attacks, killings of civilians, and strikes on our energy and railway infrastructure.”
The previous US visit by Svyrydenko and Yermak took place in late August, where key discussions focused on security guarantees and sthe trengthening sof anctions policy.
Earlier on Thursday Kyiv Post reported that Zelensky said Trump appeared open to Ukraine’s request for Tomahawk cruise missiles, during their meeting in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly two weeks ago,– a shift from Washington’s earlier refusals.
Zelensky said, “President Trump can give Ukraine some things we discussed – certain long-range capabilities that are very important for us.”