Kiev, Kellogg meeting with Zelensky, joint press conference canceled

2025-02-20 21:27:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

US President Donald Trump's envoy for the conflict in Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, met with President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kiev on Thursday.

After the meeting, the two senior officials were expected to hold a joint press conference, but the Ukrainian side said the Americans requested that it be canceled.

Referring to the meeting, in a post on social media, Mr. Zelenskiy said that Ukraine was ready to work quickly and tirelessly to reach a strong and beneficial agreement on investment and security with the United States.

"We must and can ensure that peace is strong and lasting – so that Russia no longer attacks us," Mr. Zelenskiy wrote on the social network X after meeting with the US envoy for Ukraine and Russia.

Mr. Trump's envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, said on Wednesday, ahead of his meeting with Mr. Zelensky, that he was going to Kiev to listen.

President Donald Trump is seeking a quick end to the war in Ukraine, he also seeks to restore ties with Russia, as well as invest in Ukraine's mineral resources.

Ukraine recently rejected an initial US plan on minerals, saying it did not include security guarantees for Kiev.

But today White House National Security Advisor Mike Waltz said that Ukraine should stop criticizing the United States and agree to the minerals agreement.

"They need to soften their stance and sign the agreement," Mr. Walts told the Fox News television network.

Relations between the two countries deteriorated as the two leaders, of the US and Ukraine, hurled accusations at each other.

Although Mr. Zelenskiy offered a conciliatory tone during an address to the nation on Wednesday, after accusing President Trump of repeating Russian disinformation, tensions remained high.

President Trump continued to refer to Mr. Zelenskiy as an “unelected dictator” who must act quickly or risk losing Ukraine.

US President Trump is pushing for a peace deal in Ukraine as soon as possible, something that has alarmed Washington's European allies, who have expressed concern that they were left out of initial talks with Russia.

But Vice President JD Vance said Thursday that he believed the end of the conflict was near and that the war could not be stopped without talking to Russia./VOA