Negotiations on ending the war with Russia
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Thursday that he held a one-hour conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner regarding efforts to conclude the ongoing conflict with Russia, reports BritPanorama.
Zelenskyy described the discussion as productive, mentioning that it included numerous details and promising ideas that could help in achieving a tangible peace. He noted the conversation involved new approaches regarding formats, meetings, and timelines.
In the backdrop, Trump has been advocating for a resolution to the protracted war, and recent weeks have seen gradual progress in peace talks led by Witkoff and Kushner.
Earlier this week, Zelenskyy introduced a 20-point draft peace plan, which he emphasized as the primary framework for achieving peace. This revised proposal is a condensed version of an original 28-point plan previously discussed with the Russian side, which many analysts viewed as disproportionately favoring Moscow by requiring Ukraine to cede territory and impose restrictions on its military capabilities.
Despite the refinements, Zelenskyy acknowledged that significant territorial disputes remain unresolved in the new 20-point draft and indicated that a meeting with Trump would be essential to address the most contentious matters.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov noted on Thursday that Moscow was examining the documents aimed at resolving the conflict, which had been carried to the Kremlin by Russia’s special envoy Kirill Dmitriev.
The White House has yet to respond to inquiries regarding the negotiations.
Following the talks, Zelenskyy revealed that Ukraine’s chief negotiator Rustem Umerov is scheduled to have another discussion with the U.S. negotiators later today.
“We are truly working 24/7 to bring closer the end of this brutal Russian war against Ukraine and to ensure that all documents and steps are realistic, effective, and reliable,” he stated.
