US, Ukraine brace for Russia talks as Biden final meeting with Zelenskyy cancelled

US President Joe Biden had planned to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Rome on January 10 for what would likely have been their final meeting during his tenure. However, the White House announced on January 8 that the trip would be canceled due to the ongoing wildfires in California.

The planned meeting with Zelenskyy would have occurred just over a month before the third anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and the Biden administration is eager to highlight its support for Ukraine during the remainder of Biden's time in office, Caliber.Az reports citing foreign media.

Officials within both the US and Ukrainian governments had anticipated that talks with Moscow could take place in the first half of 2025, regardless of the outcome of the US presidential election, and the primary aim was to enhance Ukraine's leverage ahead of any negotiations.

Earlier, Keith Kellogg, President-elect Donald Trump’s designated envoy for Ukraine and Russia, said that he hoped to broker a “solvable solution” between Ukraine and Russia within 100 days of Trump assuming office.

US officials maintain that sanctions imposed on Russia have significantly weakened its economy, citing soaring inflation, rising interest rates, and Russia’s diminishing capacity to compete economically in the long term. While the targets of the upcoming sanctions remain unclear, discussions about them are ongoing with incoming Trump officials, though they are not being coordinated directly, as the new administration would be responsible for enforcing them.

By Vafa Guliyeva