Zelensky says Ukraine territory ‘most troublesome’ concern, as US envoy prepares to satisfy Putin

President Zelensky has stated Kyiv’s priorities in peace talks to finish the battle with Russia are sustaining Ukraine’s sovereignty and securing sturdy safety ensures.

Zelensky stated “the territorial concern is probably the most troublesome”, as Russia continues to demand that Ukraine quit areas of the jap Donbas area that it nonetheless holds – which Kyiv maintains it should by no means do.

He was talking after assembly French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, the place he joined a name with European leaders together with these of the UK, Germany, Poland, and Italy.

In the meantime, Ukrainian and US negotiators completed two days of conferences in Florida as they labored to revise a peace plan seen as favouring Russia.

The White Home struck a optimistic tone on the talks on Monday, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt saying the administration “feels very optimistic” a couple of deal being reached to finish the battle.

Zelensky was extra circumspect, posting on X that the talks had been “very constructive” however there are “some robust points that also should be labored by way of”.

US particular envoy Steve Witkoff, who attended the talks with the Ukrainian delegation, is now sure for Russia the place he’ll meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday. They are going to be joined by President Trump’s son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner.

Witkoff has spoken with Zelensky, Macron, Ukrainian chief negotiator Rustem Umerov, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and is anticipated to relay the results of the discussions to Putin.

Final week Putin stated a draft peace plan had been proven by the Individuals to Russia, and that it may develop into the “foundation” for a future settlement to finish the battle.

The preliminary US-Russia draft peace plan circulated in November sparked consternation in Kyiv and round Europe.

In addition to being closely slanted in the direction of Moscow’s calls for, it additionally dictated how a number of billions’ value of frozen Russian property at present held in European monetary establishments must be invested and dictated the phrases of Kyiv’s entry to EU markets.

However Macron stated there was at present “no finalised peace plan to talk of”. He additionally insisted that any such proposal may solely be labored out with enter from Ukraine and Europe.

European leaders have been scrambled to get a seat on the negotiating desk for the reason that peace plan was leaked, and have urged the US to contain them in drafting any future settlement.

Macron stated that the territorial query may “solely be finalised by President Zelensky” and identified that problems with frozen Russian property, safety ensures, and accession to the EU wanted to contain European nations.

However the French chief additionally praised efforts by Donald Trump’s administration to finish the battle, which started in 2014 with Russia’s unlawful annexation of Crimea and was adopted by its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

“Now we’re ready the Russian reply: are they able to cease preventing and make peace? I need to level out that for 3, 4 occasions the Russians have stated no,” he added. “So they do not appear in a rush.”

All year long Moscow has appeared to interact with US makes an attempt to finish the battle or focus on a ceasefire, however a number of of its calls for straight counter Ukraine’s sovereignty and are seen as unacceptable by Kyiv.

Whereas the query of territory is the key sticking level, the difficulty of safety ensures for Kyiv has additionally proved contentious.

Kyiv and its European companions are eager for Ukraine to be given safety ensures – reminiscent of Nato membership – that might shield it from being attacked once more.

However Russia vehemently opposes this and Donald Trump too has dominated out permitting Ukraine to hitch the navy alliance.

Away from the negotiating desk, the battle continues.

On Monday morning a Russian missile assault on the jap Ukrainian metropolis of Dnipro killed 4 folks and injured 40, authorities have stated.

Unconfirmed experiences say a ballistic missile was used within the strike.

Movies shared on-line confirmed a big explosion happen on the aspect of a motorway, and native media stated an workplace block, vehicles and retailers had been hit or badly broken.

“We are attempting to finish this battle with all our would possibly and to finish this battle in a dignified method,” Zelensky stated in Paris.

“Russia should finish this battle that it began, it’s its battle and it’s as much as it to place an finish to it.”

The newest diplomatic push comes as Zelensky is mired in a critical corruption scandal. His chief of workers Andriy Yermak, who had additionally led the Ukrainian delegation at peace talks, resigned on Friday after anti-corruption investigators raided his residence – though he has not been accused of wrongdoing. Two cupboard ministers have additionally been fired.

On Sunday Trump instructed reporters on Air Pressure One which Ukraine had “some troublesome little issues”, referring to the scandal, and repeated his view that each Russia and Ukraine wished to finish the battle.