U.S. negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are trying to find a format for talks with Russia. But it is difficult to find an option the Russians would accept without Ukraine leaving Donetsk Oblast, LB correspondent reports, citing President Volodymyr Zelenskyy from a meeting with journalists.
So far, there are signals that Moscow continues to demand the withdrawal of the Ukrainian army from all of Donbas, or else threatens to seize it. Neither the United States nor anyone else can guarantee that the occupiers would stop at Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts.
The president added that Ukraine is not looking for an alternative to NATO and stressed that the United States remains a benchmark for many partners. Ukraine has agreements to supply anti-ballistic systems with three countries, but without U.S. approval there will be no deliveries. “I’m not looking for an alternative to NATO. It’s just that if we want realistic security guarantees, we ask: ‘Is America in it?’ We’re told: ‘Yes, America is in it.’ And what does ‘America is in it’ mean? Troops? No. Okay, there are no troops, but if there is another violation of the silence regime, a ceasefire, or the end of the war, what will the response to the aggressor be? The Americans have this response: ‘You will get what you need as soon as we see that the Russians are ready to end it.’ And when will the Russians be ready to end it? ‘When you leave Donbas.’ Do you understand the construct? That’s why there are several discussions on this topic and a great deal of uncertainty—what happens next? What will the Russians do next if there is this or that unworthy decision regarding Ukraine?” he said.
With Kushner and Witkoff, they discussed real possibilities for ending the war. The United States wants to discuss this with the participation of the Russians as well.
“In short, one of the ideas is a ceasefire—that’s the main thing. The second part is what the Americans proposed regarding a free economic zone. That is, we and the Russians take equal steps back, and this creates a buffer called a free economic zone under some kind of administration. It’s still unclear what kind, but it would be some third party. And third: what will the EU and NATO do, and what is Ukraine ready to do for this? Everyone is reacting positively to what was proposed; no one has objections. That’s what is on the table today. There are also several other ideas from the American side, as far as we know. They want to find the right moment to share them. We are waiting for them,” the head of state explained.
These three ideas were developed jointly with the United States and Europe. In the president’s view, they contain realistic elements.
“The window of opportunity to end the war runs from the G20 in the United States of America to the end of the summer of 2027, because after that the presidential election in the United States of America begins. We believe that right now this is the most active stage at which diplomacy can lead to the end of the war. That is the end of this year through the end of the summer of 2027. They didn’t make it before the election in the United States of America—we understand that. Putin wants to demonstrate strength constantly, does not want to engage in any dialogue, and wants maximum escalation. So that’s roughly the feeling. We are discussing this with the Europeans as well,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
Talks on Ending the War
Last year and at the beginning of this year, Ukraine, the United States, and Russia held trilateral meetings to discuss a plan to end the war. At the center of the discussions is a 20-point plan created with the assistance of the United States. The issue of territories remained unresolved. Russia is demanding the creation of a “demilitarized zone” in the free part of Donbas—that is, the withdrawal of Ukraine’s army from there. Ukraine believes the war should be ended along the current lines. As a compromise, the United States is proposing a free economic zone, but the mechanics of the proposal and whether Russia would, in that case, bring its own authorities there remain unknown.
The enemy also wants recognition of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant as its own and the plant’s connection to the Russian energy system. Ukraine proposes joint management of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant together with the United States, with Americans having the right to decide for themselves to whom to sell their share of the energy.
The trilateral meetings stalled in February after the start of the U.S.-Israeli operation against Iran.