Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed optimism following discussions with U.S. envoys regarding strategies to resolve the ongoing conflict with Russia.
President Zelensky stated that the conversation on Thursday with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, which lasted approximately an hour, generated “new ideas in terms of formats, meetings, and… timing on how to bring a real peace closer.”
His comments follow the announcement a day earlier of an updated 20-point peace plan, reportedly agreed upon by U.S. and Ukrainian representatives in Florida.
Zelensky indicated that he requested Witkoff and Kushner to convey Christmas greetings to former U.S. President Donald Trump “and the entire Trump family.”
The Kremlin has confirmed it is analyzing proposals presented by a Russian envoy following discussions in the U.S.
Trump and his representatives have been engaging in discussions with both Ukraine and Russia in an effort to broker an agreement to end the war, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Recent developments suggest potential progress, with the Ukrainian president acknowledging the “good ideas” offered by Witkoff and Kushner.
Zelensky characterized it as an “active day” for Ukrainian diplomacy, as he elaborated on details with the U.S. envoys.
He acknowledged that “work remains on sensitive issues” but added that “together with the American team, we understand how to put all of this in place.”
Zelensky noted that Rustem Umerov, Ukraine’s top negotiator and security official, “will continue discussions with the American team.”
The 20-point peace plan is reportedly an update to an initial draft prepared by Witkoff several weeks prior.
The original draft was perceived by many as heavily favoring Russia’s pre-invasion demands, which Kyiv and its European allies viewed as tantamount to Ukraine’s capitulation.
Describing the updated proposal, Zelensky stated on Wednesday that it offered Russia the potential withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from the east and the establishment of a demilitarized zone.
He added that the plan now includes security guarantees from the U.S., NATO, and European nations for a coordinated military response in the event of a renewed Russian invasion.
Regarding the critical issue of Ukraine’s industrial eastern Donetsk region, Zelensky suggested a “free economic zone” as a possible solution, emphasizing that any area from which Ukrainian troops withdrew would be policed by Ukraine.
Moscow currently controls approximately 75% of the Donetsk region and about 99% of the neighboring Luhansk region, collectively known as Donbas.
Zelensky has reportedly faced pressure from Trump to cede all of Donbas to Russia during ongoing Washington-led peace negotiations.
The Ukrainian leader has consistently rejected any territorial concessions, instead demanding robust security guarantees for Ukraine in any potential settlement.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly asserted that Ukrainian troops must withdraw from Donbas or Russia will seize it.
On Thursday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Moscow is examining the proposals brought back from the U.S. by Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev.
“We are examining this material, and depending on the decisions made by the head of state, we will continue our communication with the Americans,” he stated.
While diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict continue, fighting persists on the ground.
The Ukrainian military reported on Thursday that it had struck a key Russian oil refinery in the Rostov region with cruise missiles.
The Novoshakhtinsk refinery, located near the Ukrainian border, is vital for supplying fuel to Russian military operations in occupied eastern Ukraine.
The Russian defense ministry stated that its forces had taken control of the settlement of Sviato-Pokrovske in the Donetsk region.
Earlier this week, Ukrainian troops withdrew from the contested eastern town of Siversk.
The capture of Siversk brings Russia closer to the remaining “fortress belt” cities of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk still under Ukrainian control in the Donetsk region.
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