Zelenskiy's top aide says Ukraine-Russia talks may be possible in September

Talks between Ukrainian and Russian teams could be held in September and include US representatives, the Ukrainian president’s chief of staff Kyrylo Budanov said on Thursday.

Budanov said Ukraine was aiming to revive the talks, with further developments likely next month. The US-led peace talks stalled this year as Ukraine refused Russian demands to cede more territory and as Washington became increasingly preoccupied with the conflict with Iran.

”I’m hoping for that, yes, and American ones too, of course. We can’t do without them,” Budanov told Ukrainian media Novyny Live, asked whether this meant direct talks between Ukrainian and Russian negotiators.

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President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said recently that Ukraine saw a window of opportunity for US mediation until the end of next summer and has drafted one page of ideas with US and European officials to be presented to Moscow.

The last round of trilateral Ukraine-Russia talks involving US representatives took place in February. Ukrainian and Russian representatives have only had separate talks with the US team since then.