Zelenskyy G20 Miami talks could bring together Ukraine, the United States and Russia during the Group of 20 summit in Miami in December, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Saturday — though neither Washington nor Moscow has confirmed the meeting.
FAKTA
- Zelenskyy told reporters in a WhatsApp media chat on Saturday that Ukraine, the US and Russia could meet during the G20 summit in Miami in December.
- The Group of 20 includes the United States and Russia, but not Ukraine; the United States holds this year’s G20 presidency.
- Zelenskyy stressed there has been no confirmation yet from either Washington or Moscow, and said the meeting could also be held in a European or Middle Eastern country — naming the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia as venues suggested by the US.
- He said Ukrainian negotiators had spoken to US officials on Friday, and argued that Europe needed its own track for talks with Russia.
- The remarks come amid strains over US sanctions policy and continued Russian strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, which Zelenskyy said included one of the largest attacks of the war on Friday.
Zelenskyy G20 Miami Talks Floated Amid Diplomacy Push
“The meeting could then take place in the United States during the G20 summit. But there has been no confirmation yet from either Russia or the United States. It could also be held in a European country,” Zelenskyy told reporters, according to Reuters. He added that the meeting could also take place in one of the Middle Eastern countries, noting: “The United States has consistently mentioned the United Arab Emirates or Saudi Arabia.”
The potential diplomatic opening comes as Washington seeks to restart long-stalled efforts to end the conflict, which is Europe’s deadliest since World War II. Zelenskyy said Ukrainian negotiators held discussions with US officials on Friday but gave no further details. He also stressed that Europe needed its own negotiating channel with Russia, with which relations remain strained by Moscow’s war in Ukraine.
Tensions Over Sanctions and Energy Strikes
The meeting proposal lands in a tense week for Kyiv and Washington. US President Donald Trump has declined to impose tougher sanctions on Russia over the more than four-year-old war, and Zelenskyy has criticised the decision to lift restrictions on Russian diesel exports.
Meanwhile, Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure have continued. According to Zelenskyy, Russian forces carried out one of their largest strikes on Ukraine’s energy sector on Friday, targeting more than 15 critical power generation and transmission facilities across several regions. AnewZ reported that the attacks came as the two sides continued to exchange strikes on energy infrastructure, despite Trump’s declared energy ceasefire.
Leaders of the world’s largest economies at a previous G20 summit — the grouping includes both the United States and Russia, but not Ukraine.
Starlink Restrictions Still Biting
Zelenskyy also said Ukraine’s military was unable to use its interceptor drones against Russian drone attacks because of speed restrictions placed on services provided by the satellite company Starlink. “Today, our interceptor drones are not operating because of speed limitations,” he said, adding that Ukraine had been told the restrictions were caused by technical issues — though tests of Starlink on European Union territory showed no such issues.
Trump said on Friday that he did not think either he or Elon Musk — whose company SpaceX developed the Starshield system used by Ukraine’s military — was responsible for Ukraine losing Starlink access in a way that affected its military operations against Russia. The service reductions interrupted communications with headquarters and caused internet speeds to drop, according to Reuters.
What Happens Next
Whether the trilateral meeting materialises remains uncertain: both Washington and Moscow have yet to confirm Zelenskyy’s proposal, and other venues remain on the table. For Ukraine, a face-to-face format at the Miami summit would mark the most significant diplomatic opening in months. Watan News International will continue to follow the developments. For more coverage from the region, see our Europe news section.
