The United States has proposed another round of Russia-Ukraine talks, mediated by Washington, on ending four years of war next week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday.

Two rounds of trilateral talks failed to reach any breakthrough to end Europe's worst conflict since WWII, started by Moscow in 2022.

Zelensky said in an audio message sent to reporters, that talks – initially planned for last week in the United Arab Emirates – had been postponed until next week by the United States.

"This was proposed by the American side, but we'll see what happens in the Middle East, to be honest," Zelensky told journalists, adding that the meeting could be in Switzerland or Türkiye.

The Ukrainian leader had earlier held a telephone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan who offered to host the talks, Zelensky's office announced.

Zelensky said he had also discussed the war in Iran with Erdogan, who has maintained ties with both Kyiv and Moscow during the war.

He urged the West not to lift sanctions – including on Russian oil – imposed by Western countries after Moscow launched its military operation in Ukraine. Energy prices have soared over the Middle East war.

The EU earlier said it opposes removing oil sanctions on Russia to calm energy prices.

Russian leader Vladimir Putin has insisted that Moscow will seize the rest of eastern Ukraine by force if talks to end the conflict fail. (AFP)



Edited by Cecil Wong