Russia, US, Ukraine to hold first trilateral talks in UAE, Zelensky announces

Zelensky said the upcoming engagement would mark the first known meeting involving officials from all three countries since the war began, expressing cautious hope that dialogue could help pave the way toward ending the conflict.

“It is better to have talks than none at all,” Zelensky said, referring to the scheduled discussions.

The announcement followed an hour-long meeting between Zelensky and US President Donald Trump, which Trump described as a “good” conversation.

According to Zelensky, Ukrainian officials met with the American delegation on Thursday, after which the US team was expected to hold talks with Russian representatives.

Zelensky suggested that progress would require compromises from all sides, including Moscow. “Not only Ukraine, but everyone must be ready to make compromises,” he said, adding that the outcome of the discussions remains to be seen.

The Ukrainian leader did not provide details on the structure of the talks or clarify whether Ukrainian and Russian officials would engage directly.

Europe’s security dependence on the US

During the discussion, Zelensky also raised concerns over Europe’s reliance on the United States for its security, arguing that the continent needs independent military capabilities.

He said Europe largely depends on the assumption that NATO will act in times of crisis, driven by confidence in US support. “But no one has truly seen the alliance tested in action,” he noted, questioning what might happen if Washington chose not to intervene.

“That uncertainty is on the minds of European leaders,” Zelensky said.

NATO and the Russia threat

Zelensky further stated that Ukraine could play a role in countering Russian naval activity, including near Greenland, if it were a NATO member. He claimed Ukrainian forces have the experience and capability to respond effectively to such threats, citing Russia’s naval losses near Crimea.

“If Ukraine were part of NATO, we know how to deal with these situations,” he said, adding that Kyiv currently lacks the mandate to take such action outside its own territory.