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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Wednesday the “principles” of a revised US plan to end the war with Russia could lead to “deeper agreements” and that “much depends” on Washington.
An original US plan to end almost four years of Russia’s invasion has been updated — after the first version was criticised as too pro-Russia — but has yet to be published.
“The principles of this document can be expanded into deeper agreements,” Zelenskyy said in his daily address.
“I count on continued active cooperation with the American side and President (Donald) Trump. Much depends on the United States because it’s America’s strength that Russia takes most seriously.”
The United States engaged in discussions with Russian representatives in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, according to reports.
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’re ready to move forward together — with the United States of America, with personal engagement of President Trump, and with Europe,” Zelenskyy told leaders of the “coalition of the willing”.
According to the speech transcript, he said he was “ready to meet” Trump to discuss “sensitive points”.
Zelenskyy called on European leaders to be involved in negotiations as “security decisions about Europe must include Europe”.
Separately, Trump told a White House event he thought a deal on Ukraine was getting close but gave no other details, saying only: “We’re going to get there.”
Ukraine’s National Security Chief, Rustem Umerov, indicated on Tuesday that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy might visit the United States in the coming days to finalize an agreement with former President Donald Trump. However, there has been no immediate confirmation of this potential visit from U.S. officials.
Ukraine’s message hinted that an intense diplomatic push by the Trump administration could be yielding some fruit, 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 on the latest US-backed peace plan in Geneva on Sunday. US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll then met on Tuesday and Wednesday with Russian officials in Abu Dhabi, a spokesperson for Driscoll said.
A Ukrainian official expressed that Kyiv is in favor of the framework’s core principles, although some critical issues still need to be addressed in discussions between the leaders of both nations.
A hastily arranged summit between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska in August raised worries in Kyiv and European capitals that the Trump administration might accept many Russian demands, though the meeting ultimately resulted in more US pressure on Russia.
The 28-point plan that emerged last week caught many in the US government, Ukraine and Europe alike off guard and prompted fresh concerns that the Trump administration might be willing to push Ukraine to sign a peace deal heavily tilted toward Moscow.
The plan would require Ukraine to cede territory beyond the almost 20 per cent of the country that Russia has captured since its February 2022 full-scale invasion, as well as accept curbs on its military and bar it from ever joining NATO — conditions Ukraine has long rejected as tantamount to surrender.
Underlining the high stakes for Ukraine, its capital Kyiv was hit by a barrage of missiles and hundreds of drones overnight in a Russian strike that killed seven people and again disrupted power and heating systems. Residents were sheltering underground wearing winter jackets, some in tents.
