Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday that the “principles” of a revised US plan to end the war with Russia could lead to “deeper agreements” and that “a lot depends” on Washington.
An original US plan to end nearly four years of Russian invasion has been updated – after the first version was criticized as too pro-Russia – but has yet to be published.
“The principles of this document can be extended to deeper agreements,” Zelensky said in his daily address.
“I count on continued active cooperation with the American side and President (Donald) Trump. A lot depends on the United States, because it is America’s strength that Russia takes most seriously.”
The US held talks with Russian officials in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.
Earlier on Tuesday, Zelenskyy told Ukraine’s allies that his country was ready to “move forward” with the “framework” of the new US plan – but said “sensitive points” remained.
“Ukraine has the framework developed by our teams in Geneva. That framework is on the table and we are ready to move forward together – with the United States of America, with President Trump’s personal involvement, and with Europe,” Zelenskyy told the leaders of the “coalition of the willing.”
According to the transcript of the speech, he said he was “ready to meet with Trump to discuss “sensitive issues.”
Zelenskyy called on European leaders to be involved in the negotiations as “security decisions on Europe must include Europe.”
Separately, Trump told a White House event that he thought a deal on Ukraine was close, but gave no other details, saying only: “We will get there.”
Zelenskyy could visit the US in the coming days to finalize a deal with Trump, Ukraine’s national security chief Rustem Umerov said on Tuesday, although there was no immediate confirmation of such a trip from the US side.
Ukraine’s message hinted that intense diplomatic pressure from the Trump administration could yield some results, but any optimism could be short-lived as Russia stressed it would not let any deal stray too far from its own objectives.
US and Ukrainian negotiators held talks in Geneva on Sunday on the latest US-backed peace plan. U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll then met with Russian officials in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday and Wednesday, a spokesman for Driscoll said.
A Ukrainian official said Kiev “supports the essence of the framework, and some of the most sensitive issues remain points for discussion between presidents.”
A hastily arranged summit between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska in August raised concerns in Kiev and European capitals that the Trump administration would accept many Russian demands, though the meeting ultimately resulted in more U.S. pressure on Russia.
The 28-point plan, which emerged last week, has caught many in the U.S. government, Ukraine and Europe off guard and raised new concerns that the Trump administration could be willing to push Ukraine to sign a peace deal that tilts heavily toward Moscow.
The plan would require Ukraine to cede territory beyond the nearly 20 percent of land Russia has captured since the February 2022 massive invasion, impose restrictions on its military and bar it from ever joining NATO — terms that Ukraine has long rejected as tantamount to surrender.
Underscoring the high stakes for Ukraine, the capital Kiev was hit overnight by a barrage of missiles and hundreds of drones in a Russian attack that killed seven people and once again disrupted electricity and heating systems. Residents sheltered underground in winter coats, some in tents.
#Zelensky #principles #revised #peace #plan #lead #deeper #agreements