Volodymyr Zelensky warns in opposition to freely giving territory to Russia, as newest Ukraine talks finish

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has welcomed “necessary steps” made at talks with the US in Geneva on ending the battle with Russia however warned the “important drawback” remained Vladimir Putin’s demand for authorized recognition of Russian-occupied territory.

US and Ukrainian officers met on Sunday to debate a 28-point peace plan drafted by American and Russian officers in October, which induced consternation in Kyiv and amongst its European allies.

It seems the Europeans drafted counter-proposals after rejecting components of the plan which favoured Russia’s battle goals.

It’s thought that Zelensky and US President Donald Trump will meet to debate the extra contentious factors however no timeline was given.

The query of territorial integrity particularly is a key level of divergence between Russia and Ukraine. Zelensky has repeatedly stated Moscow shouldn’t be rewarded for its aggression with land it seized by drive, and that doing so would create a harmful precedent.

Following the tip of the talks in Geneva, Trump instructed on social media that “one thing good simply could also be taking place” however with the caveat: “Do not imagine it till you see it.”

Russian representatives didn’t participate within the assembly in Switzerland and the Kremlin stated it had not obtained any info on the end result of the discussions. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov famous Moscow was conscious that “changes” had been made to the plan that had initially been welcomed by Putin.

That 28-point peace plan was drafted by US and Russian officers in October and offered to Ukraine final week. A number of of its parts appeared closely geared in direction of Moscow’s longstanding calls for.

Feedback by Trump which instructed Ukraine had till Thursday to simply accept the deal or face critical cuts in US help contributed to creating a way of urgency throughout Europe and talks between Ukraine and US officers had been swiftly convened.

By Sunday night US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated a “large” quantity of progress had been made on the talks. “I actually imagine we’ll get there,” he stated.

However some European leaders have been extra cautious. “I’m not positive if we’re nearer to peace,” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated, whereas German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated discussions could be a “prolonged, long-lasting course of” and that he didn’t anticipate any breakthroughs this week.

Europeans had been left scrambling for a seat on the desk final week, after they had been seemingly caught unawares when the US draft peace plan was offered.

A counter-proposal – reportedly drafted by Britain, France and Germany – excluded any recognition of Russian-held areas, raised Ukraine’s allowed military dimension and left the door open to Ukraine becoming a member of Nato.

Rubio stated he was not conscious of the plan and on Monday Kremlin overseas coverage aide Yuri Ushakov rubbished it as “fully unconstructive”.

Since launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia has persistently demanded full Ukrainian withdrawal from the entire of the japanese Donbas, made up of Donetsk and Luhansk areas.

The 28-point plan offered final week would have Ukrainian forces withdraw from the a part of Donetsk they at present management. That space would grow to be a impartial demilitarised buffer zone “internationally recognised as territory belonging to the Russian Federation”.

This association too could be troublesome to simply accept for Ukraine. Kyiv and its European companions are cautious of any settlement which jeopardises the ideas of territorial integrity and sovereignty – and Zelensky has repeatedly warned that giving up the Donbas would go away Ukraine weak to Russian assaults sooner or later.

One other key Russian demand is for Ukraine to by no means grow to be a part of Nato. However Kyiv sees membership of the alliance as the one strategy to defend itself from future assaults – and becoming a member of Nato is enshrined within the Ukrainian structure.

Regardless of final week’s frenzied diplomacy the following steps within the course of are unclear.

The expectation is that Zelensky will quickly personally communicate to Trump, after which a brand new draft peace plan might be finally offered to Moscow. There have been no plans for a gathering this week between Russian and US negotiators, the Kremlin stated.

British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer stated there was nonetheless work to do for a “simply and lasting peace” in Ukraine. A digital “coalition of the prepared” assembly will happen on Tuesday to debate developments, he added.