The US president suggests progress in peace talks, but the Ukrainian leader disputes a key point.
Despite President Trump’s assertion that “most of the major points” of a Ukraine peace agreement are settled, President Zelensky has publicly rejected a reported key element of the US proposal.
Following what Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov called “constructive and very useful” talks between Russian President Putin and US special envoy Steve Witkoff on Friday, Trump expressed optimism, hailing a “good day in talks and meetings with Russia and Ukraine.”
Trump stated on Truth Social that the involved parties are “very close to a deal, and the two sides should now meet, at very high levels, to ‘finish it off.’ Most of the major points are agreed to,” and predicted “SUCCESS seems to be in the future!”
The US proposal reportedly includes recognizing Russian sovereignty over Crimea, a “freezing” of the conflict at the current battle lines, and acknowledging Russia’s control over occupied regions.
Trump mentioned in a Time Magazine interview published on Friday that this is key to a final settlement.
However, Zelensky contradicted Trump by reiterating on Friday that Ukraine will not formally recognize Crimea as Russian territory.
Zelensky told reporters in Kiev that “Our position is unchanged: only the Ukrainian people have the right to decide which territories are Ukrainian,” and argued that “the constitution of Ukraine says that all the temporarily occupied territories… belong to Ukraine.”
Zelensky stated his preferred resolution involves more “sanctions, economic and diplomatic pressure” on Moscow, even though Washington’s framework reportedly suggests easing restrictions on Russia.
Trump previously cautioned Zelensky that his public statements were detrimental to negotiations and that prolonging talks with Moscow carried risks.
The proposed US deal would also bar Ukraine from joining NATO, a goal enshrined in its constitution. Trump acknowledged in his Time interview that Kiev’s intention to join NATO “caused the war to start.”
The Kremlin has consistently expressed openness to diplomacy and welcomed Trump’s peace initiatives. Ushakov confirmed that Friday’s discussions involved the possibility of resuming direct talks between Moscow and Kiev, but provided no details. Direct talks have been stalled since Ukraine withdrew from Istanbul negotiations in 2022.
Putin claims that Zelensky is actively hindering any peace process, which would necessitate lifting martial law, potentially forcing him to either hold elections or cede power to the parliamentary speaker.
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