--- title: "Zelenskyy Announces Preparation of New Diplomatic Steps with US: What Was Discussed with Trump's Team" description: "Zelenskyy announced telephone talks with Trump's special envoys Witkoff and Kushner and the preparation of new diplomatic steps. At the same time, the US unblocked intelligence sharing with Ukraine." date: 2026-10-18T15:28:49.647Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/zelenskyy-announces-new-diplomatic-steps-us tags: [ukraine-usa-diplomacy, zelensky, trump, peace-talks, intelligence-sharing] author: "Alexander Buran" publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Zelenskyy Announces Preparation of New Diplomatic Steps with US: What Was Discussed with Trump's Team ![Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a black sweater and glasses looking at his smartphone at a desk](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/18/zelensky-ogolosil-o-podgotovke-novykh-diplomaticheskikh-shagov-s-ssha/zelensky-ogolosil-o-podgotovke-novykh-diplomaticheskikh-shagov-s-ssha-1.webp) ## Key Points - Zelenskyy held telephone negotiations with Trump's special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner; the focus was on the results of the meeting between the Ukrainian and American teams in Florida. - The parties are preparing the next diplomatic steps; the work of Kyiv's and Washington's representatives continues continuously. - On October 18, the US unblocked intelligence sharing with Ukraine, however, according to available data, the Armed Forces of Ukraine did not receive data on Russian ballistic attacks for three consecutive days. 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. ## Accounts differ ### Continuity of intelligence sharing between the US and Ukraine - **Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy:** The US has finally unblocked intelligence sharing with Ukraine ([rbc.ua](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/zelenskiy-proviv-novi-peregovori-komandoyu-1792336955.html)) - **Available data (reports on AFU operations):** The Armed Forces of Ukraine did not receive data on Russian ballistic attacks from the US for three consecutive days ([rbc.ua](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/zelenskiy-proviv-novi-peregovori-komandoyu-1792336955.html)) *Where they agree:* The US transfers intelligence data to Ukraine; the unblocking of the exchange was confirmed by the Ukrainian side on October 18 ## Fact-Check & Sources - [Зеленский провел новые переговоры с командой Трампа: о чем договорились](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/zelenskiy-proviv-novi-peregovori-komandoyu-1792336955.html) - Primary source: Zelenskyy's statement on telephone talks with Witkoff and Kushner, the meeting of teams in Florida, the unblocking of intelligence sharing on October 18, and data on three days without information on ballistic attacks. - [«Хорошая встреча»: Зеленский провел переговоры с Трампом в Белом доме](https://www.rfi.fr/ru/%D0%B2-%D0%BC%D0%B8%D1%80%D0%B5/20260728-%D1%85%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%BE%D1%88%D0%B0%D1%8F-%D0%B2%D1%81%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B5%D1%87%D0%B0-%D0%B7%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B9-%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B5%D0%BB-%D0%BF%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%B3%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%BE%D1%80%D1%8B-%D1%81-%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%BC-%D0%B2-%D0%B1%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%BE%D0%BC-%D0%B4%D0%BE%D0%BC) - Context: negotiations between Zelenskyy and Trump at the White House in late July 2026, used as background information on the diplomatic track. - ["Надеюсь, мы сможем закончить эту войну до зимы": Зеленский провел переговоры с Трампом в Нью ...](https://www.obozrevatel.com/politics-news/zelenskij-vstretilsya-s-trampom-na-zasedanii-generalnoj-assamblei-oon-o-chem-oni-govorili.htm) - Context: the leaders' meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on September 22, 2026, and Zelenskyy's statement expressing hope to end the war before winter. - [Переговоры Трампа и Зеленского завершились - все подробности](https://glavred.info/analytics/peregovory-trampa-i-zelenskogo-zavershilis-vse-podrobnosti-10798613.html) - Additional context on the negotiating track between Kyiv and Washington (readiness for contacts, issues of energy truce and air defense). ## FAQ ### Who exactly did Zelenskyy hold talks with on October 18? With US President's special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in a telephone format. ### What was the focus of the discussion? The results of the meeting between the Ukrainian and American teams in Florida, as well as the preparation of the next diplomatic steps. ### What happened to intelligence sharing? Zelenskyy confirmed that the US 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 the US for three consecutive days.