- 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.
