Zelenskyy says US floated UAE as venue for talks with Russia

File photo of Odessa port, Ukraine. (Photo: VCG)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on ‌Friday ⁠the United States proposed trilateral talks with Russia – hosted by the United ‌Arab Emirates – aimed at ending ‌their four-and-a-half year conflict.

"The American side has proposed ... meeting ‌at a technical level in a three-way format," Zelenskyy told reporters in a briefing via WhatsApp. "We ⁠are awaiting a ⁠proposal ⁠from the

US regarding the ‌date, and the US has suggested ⁠the Emirates as a possible location."

Zelenskyy said ‌that ⁠India, Türkiye, Egypt and other Middle Eastern ‌countries were taking part ‌in talks on ‌unblocking shipping in the Black Sea.

"Egypt, India, Türkiye, ⁠and ‌representatives from the Middle East - I had separate conversations ‌with the leadership of these countries, and our Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also been ⁠in contact with their ⁠counterparts ⁠in these countries," he told reporters.

"In addition ‌to these countries, ⁠there were also proposals from other nations ⁠to deblock the Black Sea."