- Ukraine to present revised peace plan to US.
- Plan follows London talks with Europe leaders.
- Signals renewed diplomatic push for peace.
As the war approaches its four-year anniversary, Kyiv wants to counterbalance a US-backed draft that was generally viewed as beneficial to Moscow. Kyiv is under pressure from the White House to swiftly agree to a peace settlement.
Zelenskyy, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer met in a hurry to reinforce Ukraine's position.
After the discussion, Zelenskyy told reporters that while the updated plan included 20 points, the question of ceding territory, which Moscow has advocated for, remained unresolved.
“The mood of the Americans, in principle, is for finding a compromise,”
he said.
“Of course, there are complex issues related to the territory, and a compromise has not yet been found there.”
He reiterated his frequently expressed belief that Ukraine cannot cede any portion of its territory.
The meeting on Monday will be centered on utilizing the value of Russian assets that are frozen in the West, according to a British government source.
Estonian, Finnish, Irish, Latvian, Lithuanian, Polish, and Swedish leaders called on the EU to act swiftly on a plan that has stalled to use such assets to assist Ukraine.
In order to prevent any more strikes by Russia, which began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Starmer, Macron, Merz, and Zelenskyy are also seeking US security guarantees.
European leaders' concerns that Kyiv would be compelled to comply with numerous Russian demands, which some claim might destabilize the continent, have been somewhat alleviated by the release of a US ceasefire plan last month.
However, there hasn't been any indication that either Russia or Ukraine will sign the framework agreement drafted by Trump's negotiators, despite US officials claiming they are nearing an accord.
At what the German chancellor called "decisive ... for all of us," Macron and Merz also stated their resolve to move on with a firm strategy.
Zelenskyy emphasized that in order to negotiate better terms for the proposed US plan, the European nations must perform a careful balancing act.
“There are some things we can’t manage without the Americans, things we can’t manage without Europe; that’s why we need to make some important decisions.”
In a video speech late on Sunday, Zelenskyy announced the beginning of a "new diplomatic week" to Ukrainians.
Ukraine is going through one of the hardest times of the conflict. Intense Russian attacks on the energy grid and other vital infrastructure are causing hours of power outages in Ukrainian cities and villages while Russian troops continue to advance in the east.
“First and foremost, security issues, support for our resilience, and support packages for our defense.
First and foremost, air defense and long-term funding for Ukraine. Of course, we will discuss a shared vision and common positions in the negotiations,”
he said.
After bringing a new plan to Moscow last week, US PresidentDonald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner had further days of negotiations with Ukrainian officials in Miami, which concluded on Saturday without any progress.
Zelenskyy described the conversations as difficult but productive. On Sunday, Trump expressed his "disappointment" with Zelenskyy and accused him of failing to read the most recent US-backed recommendations.
What are the key changes in the revised peace plan presented to the US?
Ukraine's revised peace plan, reduced from 28 to 20 points post-London addresses, incorporates European security guarantees( e.g., troop deployments, air defenses akin to NATO Article 5) while softening some US/ Russian demands like army size caps( removed 600,000 limit) and mask war crimes remittal( now addressing victim grievances).
Unequivocal" hard- edged" assurances from UK/ France/ Germany coalition, including non-aggression pacts, internee exchanges, and EU integration pathways absent in original favoring Russian buffer zones Donbas capitulation. No agreement on ceding land( Crimea/ Donbas); retains disarmament conversations but adds US- financed guarantees Russia choruses from aggression.
Drops extreme Russian inputs( e.g., full NATO bar, G8 reinstatement for Moscow); extends arms control (New START), enables Dnipro River commerce, and authorizes choices within 100 days of ceasefire. Zelenskyy called it" significantly better" with" numerous correct rudiments," to be participated December 9 amid ongoing US- Russia discourses.