'A great deal depends on America's position' — Zelensky holds call with Trump's peace envoys as US pivots to Moscow's side

President Volodymyr Zelensky held a phone conversation on October 18 with U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who are leading peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow. This interaction takes place as Ukraine grapples with numerous challenges in its relationship with Washington, despite once being its staunchest defense ally against Russia's full-scale invasion.

Recently, President Trump has waived sanctions on Russia, demanded that Ukraine cease attacks on oil refineries, and reportedly ordered limitations on Ukrainian forces' access to essential Starlink services on the front lines.

During the October 18 call, the main focus was on the outcomes of the latest diplomatic discussions held by the U.S. team in Miami. Zelensky informed his audience that Ukraine and the U.S. maintain constant communication and are actively preparing their subsequent diplomatic steps. He emphasized that the responsibility of the situation heavily rests on America's position, stating, "A great deal depends on America's position here."

Zelensky expressed Ukraine's willingness to engage in constructive and honest dialogue with the U.S., aiming for tangible results. In a recent NBC Meet the Press interview also published on October 18, Zelensky expressed optimism that Ukraine could initiate talks with the U.S. as early as the following week. He also highlighted that Washington has resumed sharing intelligence with Kyiv regarding Russian missile launches.