Ukraine sets out security priorities as Russia talks enter second day

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday that the war in Ukraine should be stopped first, followed by security guarantees for his country and then the possibility of dialogue on European and global security. He set out that sequence to journalists in Denmark.

ANP and AFP reported, citing unnamed sources, that Ukraine had again pressed for hostilities to end before further discussion of European security.

Security issues have nevertheless already been raised at the talks. Zelensky said security guarantees were discussed on the first day, while Interfax-Ukraine cited sources close to the negotiating team who said the future European security architecture was also among the topics.

Ukraine’s delegation is led by its foreign intelligence chief, Rustem Umerov, and Russia’s by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky. US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are mediating.

Umerov said Wednesday’s schedule would begin with three-way talks involving Ukraine, Russia and the US, followed by a meeting between the Ukrainian delegation and European officials.