Zelensky and US envoys discuss peace process

KYIV/MOSCOW — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday that he had a conversation with US President Donald Trump's representatives, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, on the next steps in diplomatic efforts to end the Ukraine crisis.

The talks focused on the results of a recent meeting between the Ukrainian and US negotiating teams in Florida, Zelensky said.

He said that representatives from both countries were engaged in constant communication and were preparing the next steps in diplomacy.

"Ukraine remains ready to work constructively, honestly, and toward a real result," Zelensky said.

Meanwhile, Trump said in a Truth Social post that his decision to waive sanctions and tariffs related to Russian exports is an effort to keep Russia at the negotiating table.

"My decision on Russia is a very simple one," he said in the post. "I am in the process of negotiating peace in the war between Russia and Ukraine, and don't want to do anything that will drive, foolishly, Russia away from the bargaining table."

Trump signed an executive order on Friday waiving major energy tariffs and sanctions on Russia mandated by the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, just days before the act could take effect.

Zelensky, however, said on NBC's Meet the Press on Sunday, waiving sanctions against Russia would strengthen Russia's efforts.

He also said US-Ukraine intelligence sharing had resumed after being "blocked for some period of time". However, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio denied earlier on Monday that there had been any suspension of intelligence sharing with Ukraine.

"There has been no pause," Rubio told reporters in Uzbekistan when asked about Ukraine's claims, calling on Zelensky to focus on ending the conflict with Russia.

"We see nothing good coming from this war," Rubio said.

On the battlefield, Ukrainian strikes set an oil export terminal and a depot ablaze in St. Petersburg on Sunday as Kyiv launched more than 1,000 drones at Russia. One person was killed and five others were wounded in the attack, local governor Alexander Beglov said.

Meanwhile, in Ukraine, a woman was killed and at least two other people were wounded in two Russian attacks on Zaporizhzhia, local officials said on Sunday.

AGENCIES-XINHUA