The US seems to have discussed forming a negotiation team with Ukraine for ‘dialogues with Russia,’ including the timing and setup. On February 28 (local time), US President Donald Trump held talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House in Washington. The Trump administration has been intensifying pressure on Ukraine to end the war. Mike Walsh, the White House National Security Adviser, mentioned in a Fox & Friends interview on the 5th (local time) about future negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, stating that if such negotiations could proceed and trust is built, President Trump would seriously consider lifting the halt on support.
Previously, President Trump halted all related support, including war materials, following a breakdown in the summit with President Zelensky and the aborted mineral agreements. Since his inauguration, President Trump has been pushing for an end to the Ukraine-Russia conflict. Such actions by the US, which has been the main pillar of international support, could severely impact Ukraine’s combat capabilities against Russia. President Zelensky, subsequently, stated he was ready to engage in peace talks, effectively surrendering to President Trump.
Andriy Yermak, the Ukrainian President’s Chief of Staff, announced via X (formerly Twitter) that he had a call with Adviser Walsh and revealed plans for both countries to hold a working meeting in the near future to exchange opinions on future security issues.
Advisor Walsh commented that there have been positive developments yesterday and today. He explained that preliminary discussions with Ukraine included possible dates, locations, and the composition of negotiation teams for the Ukraine-Russia dialogue.
On the other hand, Ukraine’s shift in stance seems significantly influenced by the US’s cessation of material support and intelligence sharing. Axios, quoting sources, reported that the suspended intelligence mostly pertained to supporting Ukraine’s attacks within Russian territories.
Another source mentioned that the halt in intelligence sharing has immediately affected Ukrainian military operations. President Zelensky’s regret over the summit’s failure and his shift in position also reflect these circumstances, explained Axios.
John Ratcliffe, the Director of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), stated in a Fox Business interview that President Zelensky issued a statement indicating his readiness to achieve peace, suggesting that the current suspension of weapon supplies and intelligence sharing would be lifted accordingly.