US Pushes for Three-Way Talks on Ukraine War, Zelenskyy Says

The United States is proposing three-way technical talks involving delegations from Ukraine, Russia, and the U.S. to address the ongoing conflict, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Ukraine is awaiting a date proposal from the U.S. for these discussions.

This development follows earlier, unsuccessful rounds of three-way negotiations held early this year. Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump discussed the possibility of such a meeting during a call earlier this month, though no concrete plans have been established, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated.

On Saturday, German and Russian foreign ministers held a rare meeting on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul urged Russia to abandon its "dangerous path of escalation" toward Germany, Europe, and NATO. He also expressed openness to improved relations, contingent on Russia's genuine willingness to end the war in Ukraine. The meeting, reportedly lasting about 20 minutes, concluded with both ministers shaking hands.

Following this encounter, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov addressed the General Assembly, defending Russia's actions in Ukraine and criticizing Western influence. He specifically opposed the idea of Germany or Japan obtaining permanent seats on the U.N. Security Council, a position supported by the U.S.

Lavrov characterized the current geopolitical shifts as the emergence of a "fairer, multipolar world order," asserting that the West attempts to maintain its privileges and impose its rules. Russia aims to demonstrate its continued global influence despite Western isolation stemming from the war.

Meanwhile, the conflict remains intense, with both sides reporting casualties from aerial attacks. Ukraine stated that Russian attacks killed four people on Saturday, while Russia reported three deaths from a Ukrainian drone strike. Western analysts estimate that the war has resulted in over 500,000 Russian casualties, including up to 140,000 deaths, and over 500,000 Ukrainian military casualties. Neither country publicly discloses its own casualty figures.

The war continues to have significant global repercussions on energy, fertilizer, and grain supplies, while also deepening divisions between Russia and the West. President Zelenskyy has consistently urged international partners to intensify efforts to choke off Russian revenues and impede its war capabilities.

In response to the ongoing hostilities, U.S. lawmakers passed a sanctions bill targeting Moscow last month, which President Trump signed into law. However, these measures have not yet been enacted.