Ukrainian, US teams to meet on peace talks with Russia this week

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced Monday that Ukrainian and U.S. teams will meet this week to explore the possibility of peace negotiations between Kiev and Moscow, reported Xinhua.

Speaking at a press conference here alongside Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, Zelensky said he will discuss the matter with U.S. Special Envoy Keith Kellogg later in the day.

"It seems to me that we will have a basic plan for security guarantees. I think that the details still require time. More work needs to be done. After that, I would like to understand from the American side whether the Russians are ready (for a meeting)," Zelensky said.

Earlier this month, U.S. President Donald Trump said that he had begun arranging a meeting between Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday he had spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin following last week's White House meetings with Ukrainian and European leaders.

Trump told reporters that the call with Putin took place after his Aug. 18 meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and several European leaders in Washington.

He noted that security guarantees for Ukraine have not yet been finalized, suggesting Europe would take the lead while the United States would provide "backup."

"We have not even discussed the specifics of it," Trump said. "Europe is going to give them significant security guarantees, and they should, because they are right there, but we will be involved from the standpoint of backup to help them."

Trump also revealed that during his Aug. 15 meeting with Putin in the U.S. state of Alaska, the two leaders discussed reducing their countries' nuclear arsenals once the Ukraine crisis ends.