Kiev, Ukraine – Ukraine said it expects rapid advances in security assurances that its allies can provide in peace agreements with Russia, but one summit site that may be pursued by the US is “challenging.”
Ukrainian President Voldy Meezelensky urged rapid progress on Wednesday as US and European military officials meet. Ukraine “want to understand security assurance architecture within 7-10 days,” Zelensky told reporters in Kiev.
Trump has promised that it will help the US provide security guarantees in its settlement with Russia. He has since revealed that this does not include US troops on the ground, but could include air support.
Zelenskyy said that Kyiv is ready to meet with Russia’s Vladimir Putin as they make it clearer about the protections their allies are willing to offer.
Where those talks might be placed emerged as a possible stumbling.
The White House is proceeding with arrangements despite public modes of understandment from the Kremlin. Hungary’s capital, Budapest, and Switzerland’s city of Geneva, is one of the sites under discussion, told NBC News as Washington tried to secure a location and date.
However, Zelenskyy said Wednesday that Budapest will be a “challenging” venue for his first in-person meeting with his Russian counterparts since the Kremlin began a full-scale invasion.
He said the conference should take place in a neutral European country.
“I’m not saying that Orban’s policy is against Ukraine, but that was against Ukraine’s support,” Zelenki told reporters, referring to Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban. “Switzerland, Austria – we agree,” he said, adding that Ukraine would also accept Turkey.
Russia on Wednesday indicated that Putin and Zelensky were not in a hurry to sit together.
Regarding the meeting at the “highest level,” Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said, “They must prepare with the utmost care.”
Darina Mayer reported from Kiev, while Misir Agarwal reported from Hong Kong.
