Zelenskyy Announces Preparation of New Diplomatic Steps with US: What Was Discussed with Trump's Team

On October 18, 2026, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced new telephone negotiations with the team of US President Donald Trump. According to the head of state, he spoke with the American leader's special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. In Zelenskyy's assessment, the parties are preparing the next diplomatic steps that will help bring the end of the Russian war closer.

What Was Discussed in Phone Format

As the Ukrainian president emphasized, the focus of the conversation was the results of the meeting between the Ukrainian and American teams in Florida. "Peace comes only through strength and cooperation built on trust. We are all doing our part for this and to ensure that America's position is strong and helps bring closer the peace that everyone, except Russia, has been waiting for for over four and a half years," Zelenskyy wrote on his Telegram channel. He also noted that the work of his representatives and Donald Trump's special envoys is ongoing continuously.

Diplomatic Track Since Summer

The current round of contacts is a continuation of the intensive diplomatic track that has been developing since the summer of 2026. In late July, Zelenskyy and Trump held negotiations at the White House, which the Ukrainian president described as "a good meeting." In late September, the leaders met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, where Zelenskyy expressed hope that the war could be ended before winter. The telephone conversation with Witkoff and Kushner fits into this logic: after direct contacts between the leaders, the parties are moving on to preparing concrete steps.

Intelligence Sharing: Unblocking and Gaps

On October 18, Zelenskyy also confirmed that the US finally unblocked intelligence sharing with Ukraine. At the same time, according to available data, the Armed Forces of Ukraine had previously not received data on Russian ballistic attacks from Washington for three consecutive days. The discrepancy between the official statement on the resumption of cooperation and the actual continuity of data transmission remains one of the key issues in the military-technical dimension of the partnership.

What Depends on Washington's Position

Zelenskyy stressed that Kyiv constantly informs partners about the real situation with Russian shelling, which "does not stop for a minute," and about air defense issues. "A lot depends precisely on America's position here. Ukraine remains ready to work constructively, honestly, and for a real result," the president stated. Thus, the next diplomatic steps, judging by everything, will be tied to the US position on air defense systems and the continuity of intelligence support.