Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled to hold direct talks with US President Donald Trump to negotiate the "most delicate points" of a potential peace deal aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. The discussions come amid a "sense of urgency" from the White House to finalise an agreement.
US and Ukrainian Positions on the Peace Plan
The planned high-level dialogue follows extensive discussions between US and Ukrainian officials in Geneva concerning a controversial 28-point proposal. This original plan was drawn up by America and Russia but has since been met with a counter-proposal amended by Kyiv's European allies.
As of Monday night, the White House acknowledged there were still a "couple of points of disagreement." White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt stated, "The president wants to see this deal come together, and to see this war end." She emphasised the administration's urgent desire to strike an agreement.
President Zelenskyy confirmed the ongoing efforts, noting in his nightly video address that "there is still work for all of us to do to finalise the document." He stressed the need to handle matters with dignity, adding, "The sensitive issues, the most delicate points, I will discuss with President Trump."
International Reactions and Stumbling Blocks
The path to a deal remains complex. While President Trump had previously accused Ukraine of insufficient gratitude for US military support and set a Thursday deadline for Kyiv to agree to the plan, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio later downplayed this ultimatum, suggesting negotiations could continue.
A significant hurdle is Moscow's firm opposition to the European version of the peace plan. The European counterproposal would halt fighting at the current front lines, deferring territorial discussions for a later date, and would include a NATO-style US security guarantee for Ukraine. This contrasts with the original plan, which Mr Rubio denied was written by Russia, despite it appearing to incorporate several longstanding Kremlin demands that are challenging for Kyiv to accept.
Meanwhile, the UK's Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, is chairing a virtual meeting of Ukraine's allies in the "coalition of the willing." Sir Keir stated the alliance is focused on achieving a "just and lasting peace," highlighting the conflict's direct impact on the UK.
The war was also a topic in a call between President Trump and China's Xi Jinping on Monday. According to Chinese state news agency Xinhua, Mr Xi urged "all parties" to "reduce differences" and reiterated China's support for peace efforts, despite the nation remaining a consistent ally of Russia throughout the invasion.
