Laura Gozzi
EPA/ShutterstockPresident Zelensky indicated that Ukraine’s main objectives in ongoing peace negotiations with Russia are to uphold the nation’s sovereignty and obtain robust security assurances.
He noted that “the issue of territory is the hardest” as Russia insists that Ukraine relinquish control of parts of the eastern Donbas area it still occupies—something Kyiv asserts it will never concede.
Zelensky spoke after a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, where he participated in discussions alongside European leaders from the UK, Germany, Poland, and Italy.
Concurrently, negotiators from Ukraine and the US concluded two days of discussions in Florida aimed at amending a peace framework perceived as overly favorable to Russia.
On Monday, the White House conveyed an optimistic outlook regarding the negotiations, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stating that the administration “feels very positive” about the potential for a peace agreement.
Zelensky adopted a more cautious stance, expressing on X that the discussions were “very constructive” but acknowledged “some challenging issues still need to be resolved.”
US special envoy Steve Witkoff, who was present at the talks with the Ukrainian representatives, is now headed to Russia to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, along with President Trump’s son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner.
Witkoff has communicated with Zelensky, Macron, Ukrainian chief negotiator Rustem Umerov, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and is expected to convey the results of these discussions to Putin.
Last week, Putin stated that a draft peace plan had been presented to Russia by American officials and could serve as the “foundation” for a future deal aimed at concluding the conflict.
The preliminary US-Russia draft peace proposal circulated in November caused alarm in Kyiv and across Europe.
In addition to being heavily biased toward Moscow’s requests, it also specified how billions of frozen Russian assets held in European banks should be allocated and defined the terms for Kyiv’s participation in EU markets.
Nevertheless, Macron stated that there is currently “no finalized peace plan to discuss.” He emphasized that any such proposal must involve collaboration with Ukraine and Europe.
European leaders have been eager to secure a place at the negotiation table since the leak of the peace plan, urging the US to include them in drafting any upcoming agreements.
Macron noted that the territorial matter can “only be resolved by President Zelensky” and highlighted that questions regarding frozen Russian assets, security assurances, and EU accession should include European nations.
However, the French leader also acknowledged Donald Trump’s administration’s efforts to resolve the conflict, which started in 2014 with Russia’s unlawful annexation of Crimea, followed by its full-blown invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
“Now we await the Russian response: are they willing to cease hostilities and pursue peace? I must underline that on three or four occasions, the Russians have declined,” he added. “Thus, they do not appear to be in a hurry.”
Throughout the year, Moscow has seemingly engaged with US overtures for a resolution to the war or discussions on a ceasefire; however, several of its demands starkly oppose Ukraine’s sovereignty and are viewed as unacceptable by Kyiv.
While territorial issues remain the primary hurdle, the matter of security assurances for Kyiv has also proven contentious.
Kyiv and its European allies are eager for Ukraine to receive security assurances—such as NATO membership—that would shield it from future aggression.
However, Russia firmly rejects this, and Donald Trump has similarly excluded the prospect of Ukraine joining the military alliance.
Away from the negotiation discussions, the war persists.
On Monday morning, a Russian missile strike on the eastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro resulted in four fatalities and left 40 others injured, according to officials.
Unverified sources report that a ballistic missile was utilized in the attack.
Footage shared online revealed a significant explosion occurring along a motorway, with local media reporting that an office building, vehicles, and shops sustained damage.
“We are striving to conclude this war with all our powers and to do so in a respectable manner,” said Zelensky in Paris.
“Russia must bring this war to an end; it initiated this conflict, and it is its obligation to resolve it.”
The latest diplomatic initiative occurs while Zelensky is embroiled in a significant corruption scandal. His chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, who also represented Ukraine at peace negotiations, resigned on Friday following anti-corruption raids at his residence—though he has not been charged with any wrongdoing. Additionally, two cabinet ministers have been dismissed.
On Sunday, Trump remarked to reporters aboard Air Force One that Ukraine was facing “some tricky little issues,” alluding to the scandal, while reiterating his belief that both Russia and Ukraine desire to terminate the conflict.
