Foreign Affairs Minister Ian Borg Confirms Malta Offer To Host Peace Talks Between Russia And Ukraine

Malta has offered to act as a mediator in peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, Foreign Affairs Minister Ian Borg announced, whilst speaking on RTK103, following a dramatic public clash between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky.

Borg revealed that he had reached out to US officials through private diplomatic channels to propose Malta’s mediation services, aligning with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s call for peace negotiations.

“I am certain that many other countries have made similar offers, but we stand ready and willing to provide a space for talks,” Borg stated, highlighting Malta’s recent role in hosting high-level officials from the US, Russia, and China.

The Foreign Affairs Minister made these remarks on Saturday, a day after US President Trump and Vice-President JD Vance publicly rebuked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House.

The confrontation, which stunned world leaders, overshadowed what was intended to be a signing ceremony for a rare minerals agreement granting the US access to crucial Ukrainian natural resources.

Malta hosted a round of peace talks on the Russia-Ukraine war in October 2023, but with Russia refusing to participate, the discussions ultimately led to no significant progress.

Malta saw greater success in fostering diplomacy in December 1989 when it hosted a high-level summit between US President George H. Bush and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, an event widely regarded as a pivotal moment in ending the Cold War.

Former MP Franco Debono referenced this achievement in a social media post on Saturday morning, urging the Maltese government to take on a similar role in facilitating peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.

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