Ukrainian President Zelensky held a phone call with U.S. special envoys to discuss recent diplomatic talks and next steps in the conflict.

On October 18, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held a telephone conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The discussion focused on the outcomes of recent diplomatic meetings between Ukrainian and American teams in Florida and the preparation of next steps in diplomacy. Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine remains ready to work constructively and honestly toward tangible results, noting that a great deal depends on America's position.

Diplomatic Context and Air Defense

Zelensky stated that the U.S. and Ukraine are in constant communication and are preparing for further diplomatic engagements. He highlighted that Ukraine is continuously informing its partners about the ongoing Russian shelling and the critical need for air defense systems, specifically mentioning Patriot systems for intercepting ballistic missiles. In an interview with NBC's 'Meet the Press' published on the same day, Zelensky expressed hope for holding talks with the U.S. as early as the following week and noted that Washington had resumed sharing intelligence regarding Russian missile launches.

Recent U.S. Policy Shifts

The call took place amid significant changes in U.S. support for Ukraine. In recent days, the White House waived sanctions on Russia, demanded Ukraine halt attacks on oil refineries, and reportedly restricted Ukrainian forces' access to Starlink services. These moves followed Trump's October 9 announcement of a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin to purchase diesel, which shocked Ukrainian and U.S. officials. On October 11, Trump unilaterally declared an 'energy ceasefire,' a development that appeared surprising to both Kyiv and the Kremlin.