Ukraine, US coordinate positions ahead of major diplomatic development this week

ISTANBUL

Ukraine’s Presidential Office head Andriy Yermak said on Monday that Kyiv coordinated positions with top US officials ahead of “important diplomatic steps” scheduled for this week, stressing that a just and lasting peace requires an unconditional ceasefire before substantive negotiations.

Yermak said he informed US Secretary of State Marco Rubio about ongoing communications with partners, including during a meeting with US Vice President J.D. Vance.

“For Ukraine, the priority is a just and lasting peace, which involves an unconditional ceasefire as a prerequisite for substantive negotiations, as well as increasing pressure on the Russian Federation to take real steps in this direction,” he said.

He thanked US President Donald Trump for his “leadership in striving to end Russia’s war against Ukraine” and the American people for their support, as well as Secretary of State Rubio and US President’s Special Representative for Ukraine, General Keith Kellogg, for their efforts toward peace.