Kyyiv: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to meet US Vice President JD Vance on Friday at the Munich Security Conference to discuss Washington’s efforts to bring an end to the ongoing war with Russia, now approaching its third year.
US President Donald Trump is also increasing diplomatic efforts, sending his special envoy, Keith Kellogg, to Ukraine on February 20. Kellogg has been tasked with formulating a proposal to halt hostilities.
While Trump has expressed a desire for a swift resolution to the war, Kyiv remains cautious, emphasizing the need for strong security guarantees from the US as part of any agreement with Moscow. Ukraine fears that without firm military commitments—such as NATO membership or the presence of peacekeeping forces—Russia could use a settlement as an opportunity to regroup and prepare for future offensives.
Zelensky’s spokesperson, Sergiy Nikiforov, confirmed the planned meeting with Vance on the sidelines of the Munich conference. Meanwhile, details of Kellogg’s itinerary in Ukraine remain undisclosed. His visit will take place just days before the February 24 anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
In a video address on Monday, Zelensky reiterated his call for "real peace and effective security guarantees" for Ukraine, emphasizing not just national security but also economic stability and long-term sustainability for the broader free world.
Despite Trump’s stated interest in brokering peace, he has yet to present a detailed plan for negotiations. Direct talks between Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin remain unlikely, as both leaders have previously dismissed the possibility. Russia continues to demand that Ukraine relinquish control over several territories, while Kyiv refuses to make territorial concessions, though Zelensky has acknowledged diplomacy may play a role in reclaiming occupied regions.
Moscow claims to have annexed Crimea in 2014 and four other Ukrainian regions—Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia—in 2022, though it does not have full control over them.
Zelensky also revealed that a meeting with Trump is being planned, though a date has not yet been set. Trump recently suggested he would "probably" meet with the Ukrainian leader soon but ruled out traveling to Kyiv.
The New York Post reported that Trump had spoken to Putin by phone regarding the war, with the Russian president allegedly stating he wanted to "see people stop dying." The Kremlin has neither confirmed nor denied that such a conversation took place.
The Munich Security Conference, running from February 14-16, will host a US delegation that includes Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Vice President Vance, and envoy Kellogg. Russian government representatives will not be present at the event, according to conference chairman Christoph Heusgen.
The meeting comes as Russian forces continue their advance in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, capturing several settlements after months of intense bombardment.
