US delegation cancels press conference after Zelensky meets Trump envoy

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has met US special envoy to Ukraine Keith Kellogg in Kyiv, but a joint press conference slated for after the talks was cancelled at the request of the US delegation, RBC Ukraine reported on Thursday.

No reason has been given for the press conference being cancelled, and it is unknown what Zelensky and Kellogg discussed at the meeting.

Earlier on Thursday, US National Security Adviser Michael Waltz said that shortly before Zelensky and Kellogg met, he had called upon the Ukrainian president to sign up to a deal granting the US a share of Ukraine’s rare earth metals, Fox News reported. Waltz said Kyiv’s resistance to the deal and the way in which Zelensky communicated with Trump were unacceptable in light of US assistance to the country thus far. “They need to tone it down, take a hard look and sign that deal,” Waltz said.

An American delegation led by Kellogg arrived in the Ukrainian capital for a three-day visit on Wednesday. Speaking to journalists ahead of the Munich Security Conference, Zelensky said that he had told Kellogg that he “would go to the front with him if he’s prepared” and that he wanted Kellogg to be be be given a situation report by the military.

“I really want him to tell President Trump everything. … After that, I will be ready to discuss these steps with President Trump,” Zelensky said in comments reported by independent news outlet Ukrainska Pravda.