Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Feb. 20 that his meeting with U.S. envoy Keith Kellogg has renewed hope for possible agreements between the two nations amid political tensions over the Russia-Ukraine war.
The two held talks in Kyiv after U.S. and Russian officials began talks on a peace settlement on Feb. 18, which did not include Ukraine’s participation.
He said that he had a “detailed conversation” with Kellogg that focused on the battlefield situation, the return of Ukrainian prisoners of war, and the security guarantees for Ukraine.
“We must and can ensure that peace is strong and lasting—so that Russia can never return with war,” he said.
“Ukraine is ready for a strong, effective investment and security agreement with the President of the United States. We have proposed the fastest and most constructive way to achieve results.”
He added, “Economy and security must always go hand in hand, and the details of these agreements matter—the better they are structured, the greater the results.”
The meeting between Zelenskyy and Kellogg was initially set to conclude with a press conference, but Ukrainian presidential spokesman Serhii Nykyforov later said that the U.S. side had requested it to be canceled. He did not specify a reason for the change.
The talks came two days after U.S. and Russian officials met in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, for landmark talks aimed at ending the war that has been ongoing since Russian troops invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Ukrainian representatives were not present at the meeting in Riyadh.
Zelenskyy, on the other hand, said on Feb. 19 that Trump was living in what he described as a “disinformation space” created by Russia.
According to Kyiv, Ukrainian law prohibits elections from being held while the country remains under martial law, which was imposed in the wake of Russia’s invasion.
Tensions grew between the two leaders when Zelenskyy rejected a U.S. deal to receive $500 billion in mineral wealth from Ukraine to repay the American’s wartime aid. Zelenskyy said the proposed deal did not include the security provisions Ukraine is seeking.
“His frustration with President Zelenskyy is, that you’ve heard, is multifold,” Waltz said. “One, there needs to be a deep appreciation for what the American people, what the American taxpayer, what President Trump did in his first term, and what we’ve done since. So, some of the rhetoric coming out of Kyiv, frankly, and insults to President Trump were unacceptable.”
Waltz also rejected the notion suggesting that Trump was being manipulated by Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
“If there’s anybody in this world that can go toe to toe with Putin, that could go toe to toe with Xi, that could go toe to toe with Kim Jong Un—and we could keep going down the list—it’s Donald J. Trump. He is the dealmaker in chief,” he said.
