Ukrainian President Zelenskiy Discusses Potential Peace Deal with U.S.
KYIV, Ukraine – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced that a draft peace agreement he has been working on with U.S. officials, aimed at ending nearly four years of conflict with Russia, could be finalized very soon. He indicated that a U.S. envoy would present the proposal to the Kremlin ahead of further discussions scheduled in the U.S. next weekend.
Speaking to reporters late on Monday, Zelenskiy described the peace plan discussed in Berlin as “very workable.” However, he cautioned that several critical issues are still up for debate, particularly concerning the fate of Ukrainian territory currently occupied by Russian forces.
It seems the U.S.-led peace initiative is gaining ground. Nevertheless, President Vladimir Putin may resist certain aspects of the proposals—like those surrounding Ukraine’s security after the conflict—which have already faced rejection from officials in Washington, Kyiv, and Western Europe.
According to U.S. officials, Ukraine and Europe are aligned on roughly 90% of the peace plan formulated by the U.S. “I think we’re closer to a peace agreement now than we’ve ever been,” President Trump remarked.
Still, there are numerous potential challenges ahead.
Zelenskiy emphasized that Ukraine will not recognize Russian control over any area of the Donbass region, a critical economic zone in eastern Ukraine comprising Luhansk and Donetsk. The Russian military, too, does not maintain complete dominance over this territory.
“The United States is looking for a compromise,” Zelenskiy noted before heading to the Netherlands on Tuesday. “They’re proposing a ‘free economic zone’ in Donbass. I want to stress that a ‘free economic zone’ does not imply control by the Russian Federation.”
Issues related to land ownership continue to be among the most complex challenges to reaching a full agreement.
President Putin insists on the recognition of all four major regions occupied by Russian forces, alongside Crimea, which Russia annexed illegally in 2014.
Zelenskiy warned that if Putin turns down diplomatic solutions, Ukraine anticipates heightened pressure on Russia from the West, including stricter sanctions and increased military aid for defense. He also mentioned that if negotiations collapse, Ukraine would push for stronger air defense systems and long-range weaponry.
Zelenskiy shared that Ukraine and the U.S. are drafting up to five documents related to the peace framework, with some concentrating on security matters.
He expressed optimism regarding the progress made in the Berlin discussions. “Overall, there was a demonstration of unity,” he stated, highlighting the collaborative spirit of the U.S., Europe, and Ukraine.
