Kyiv to decide who speaks for Europe in Russia negotiations

Ukraine will decide who represents Europe in any negotiations with ‌Russia, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in an interview with Ukrainian media published late on Sunday.

Ukraine has been trying to reinvigorate the diplomatic push to end Russia's more than four-year-old war by including Europeans, as U.S.-backed negotiations stalled amid the Iran war and Ukraine refused ​Russian demands to cede its territory.

Zelenskiy said that Ukraine was discussed "at greater length than ever before" ​at a European Council meeting last week.

"We discussed Europe's role in the dialogue with ⁠the Russians and what that role should be," he said, relaying his comments to the Ukrainian media ​on social media platform X.
"Europe will consider the format and propose several options, but Ukraine will decide who ​represents Europe in the negotiations. That is fair."

European leaders have recently begun discussing the possibility of direct talks with Moscow, but they are divided over how to handle relations with Russia.

LICENSES FOR MISSILE DEFENCE PRODUCTION

Zelenskiy had urged allies to increase pressure on Russia ​to end the war at the Group of Seven summit in the French resort of Evian-les-Bains, where he ​met with U.S. President Donald Trump.

Zelenskiy repeated his request for the U.S. leader to approve licenses for Ukraine to manufacture U.S.-designed ‌Patriot ⁠interceptor missile systems locally. The war in Iran exposed a global shortage of such weapons at a time when Russia is increasing its ballistic missile production.

"This time, it became quite public that the U.S. team had responded positively to the issue of licenses for the first time," Zelenskiy said.

The U.S. interceptors are the only ​effective weapon in Ukraine's arsenal ​for downing Russian ballistic ⁠missiles.

The Ukrainian leader said that Trump planned to ask U.S. defence companies to establish licensed production of air defence missiles in Europe and Ukraine.

Reuters could not immediately ​reach the White House or Raytheon and Lockheed Martin which manufacture the Patriot ​missile interceptor systems, ⁠for comment.

-Reuters