Zelenskyy’s readiness to negotiate 'positive step forward': US national security advisor

​​​​​​​By Yasin Gungor

ISTANBUL (AA) – US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz on Wednesday described Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s readiness to negotiate with Russia as a “positive step forward” toward ending the conflict.

Waltz highlighted progress in discussions about potential peace talks. “We are talking about a location, a date, a negotiating team,” Waltz told Fox News.

“Yesterday and today was a positive step forward to say we are going to negotiate this peace, and we're already talking about confidence-building measures,” he added.

The US official said the measures would be presented to Russia to "test" their willingness to engage.

The comments follow a letter from Zelenskyy to US President Donald Trump that expressed Kyiv’s readiness to pursue “lasting peace” through negotiations.

“The letter reads, Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer,” said Trump in an address to Congress on Tuesday night.

Earlier Tuesday, Zelenskyy expressed regret for a contentious meeting last week at the White House, saying that it had not gone as planned.

"Our meeting in Washington, at the White House on Friday, did not go the way it was supposed to be. It is regrettable that it happened this way. It is time to make things right,” he wrote on X.