Zelenskiy says US sought postponement of talks on war settlement, Ukrainian media reports

March 13 - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was quoted as saying on Friday the U.S. had sought a postponement of the latest round of three-sided talks on a settlement to Ukraine's four-year-old conflict with Russia. Read more at straitstimes.com.

March 13 - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was quoted as saying on Friday the U.S. had sought a postponement of the latest round of three-sided talks on a settlement to Ukraine's four-year-old conflict with Russia.

Zelenskiy, whose comments were quoted by various Ukrainian media outlets at the end of a visit to France, said the U.S. side had said its negotiators were not permitted to leave the United States in view of circumstances in the Middle East.

He said discussions about the next round were akin to a soap opera "because of the war in the Middle East."

"The Americans said they were ready to meet, but only in America as the war and the security situation barred them from leaving the U.S.," the state news agency Ukrinform quoted Zelenskiy as saying.

The Ukrainian delegation, he said, was ready to meet in Miami or Washington, but Russia rejected the proposal and suggested meeting in Turkey or Switzerland, a proposal ruled out by the U.S.

"We immediately said that we were ready for a meeting next week, we are preparing for a meeting in America, in Switzerland, in Turkey, and even, if they are not afraid, in the Emirates," Zelenskiy was quoted as saying.