UPDATE - Ukrainian delegation arrives in US for talks on security guarantees, post-war recovery

UPDATES WITH STATEMENT BY UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT; ADDS DETAILS

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - A Ukrainian delegation arrived in the US on Saturday for discussions on agreements on security guarantees and a post-war recovery package for Kyiv.

Head of Ukraine’s presidential office, Kyrylo Budanov, said on Telegram that they “will have an important conversation with American partners regarding the details of a peace agreement.”

Budanov said a joint meeting is scheduled with US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, and Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll.

In a later video address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he expects the first reports regarding the meetings "toward the evening," and that the delegation's main task is to "present the full and accurate picture of what is happening and what Russian strikes are causing."

"Among the consequences of this terror is the discrediting of the diplomatic process: people lose faith in diplomacy, and Russian attacks constantly undermine even the limited opportunities for dialogue that existed before. The American side must understand this," he said.

He went on to state that progress is also needed on documents that have been in preparation, adding Kyiv "has never been and will never be a roadblock to peace, and it is now up to our partners to determine whether diplomacy moves forward."

On Friday, Zelenskyy told a joint news conference in Kyiv with Czech President Petr Pavel that the delegation is on its way to the US.

“We hope that there will be more clarity both regarding the documents that we have actually prepared with the American side, and regarding Russia's response to all the diplomatic work that has been and is taking place,” Zelenskyy said.

“If everything is finalized, if there is acceptance from the American side, ... then signing will be possible during Davos,” he added, referring to the upcoming edition of the World Economic Forum, which will take place on Jan. 19-23.

Ukrainian Ambassador to the US Olha Stefanishyna said through US social media company X that the talks would take place in Miami, Florida, on Saturday, with the visit aiming to “refine these agreements with American partners.”

Budanov, Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov, and the parliamentary leader of Zelenskyy’s Servant of the People party, Davyd Arakhamia, are set to be among the participants of the talks, Stefanishyna noted.