Zelensky speaks with Witkoff, Kushner on Ukraine-US-Russia talks

The direct channel between Kyiv and the US envoys, ahead of trilateral talks, suggests the diplomatic track is being kept warm even as Ukraine presses for more air-defense interceptors — a reminder that negotiation and battlefield support are running in parallel rather than one replacing the other. The pairing of submitted proposals with a fresh weapons request signals Kyiv is negotiating from a position it wants reinforced, not one it considers settled. Whether the proposals and the interceptor request move together, or the talks advance while air-defense supplies stay the sticking point, is the open question.