ISTANBUL
US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz on Wednesday described Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s readiness to negotiate with Russia as a “positive step forward” toward ending the conflict.
Waltz highlighted progress in discussions about potential peace talks. “We are talking about a location, a date, a negotiating team,” Waltz told Fox News.
“Yesterday and today was a positive step forward to say we are going to negotiate this peace, and we’re already talking about confidence-building measures,” he added.
The US official said the measures would be presented to Russia to “test” their willingness to engage.
“This is going to be a tough shuttle diplomacy but both sides have to enter into it,” he added.
The comments follow a letter from Zelenskyy to US President Donald Trump that expressed Kyiv’s readiness to pursue “lasting peace” through negotiations.
Waltz revealed that Trump, upon seeing the letter, said: “Wish we had heard this last week,” and directed officials to focus on negotiation details.
“What we came out of the Oval Office truly questioning last week … whether President Zelenskyy would ever deal with the Russians and we ever bring this war to an end,” Waltz said.
When asked about the pause in US aid to Ukraine, Waltz suggested it could be lifted if negotiations progress.
“If we can nail down these negotiations … then the president will take a hard look at lifting this pause,” he said. However, he emphasized the need for sincerity from both sides to achieve a lasting peace.
Waltz also noted that recent conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart were “much better” than previous discussions.
Earlier Tuesday, Zelenskyy expressed regret for a contentious meeting last week at the White House, saying that it had not gone as planned.
“Our meeting in Washington, at the White House on Friday, did not go the way it was supposed to be. It is regrettable that it happened this way. It is time to make things right,” he wrote on X.
