Zelensky says Ukrainian battlefield successes strengthen Kyiv’s position in talks

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday, on the eve of US-led, three-sided talks on resolving the war with Russia, that Ukrainian battlefield successes and mounting Russian losses were strengthening Kyiv’s position in negotiations.

The talks with Russian and US negotiators, opening on Tuesday in Abu Dhabi, will be the first since February aimed at bringing closer an end to the more than 4-1/2-year-old war.

“Ukrainian forces are currently genuinely strengthening Ukraine’s negotiating position,” Zelensky said in his nightly video address.

“Every task that is fully accomplished, every defensive operation that increases Ukraine’s strength and delivers results, strengthens Ukraine and, above ⁠all, strengthens us ⁠in negotiations.”