Zelensky to meet Trump on Dec 28 in Florida to discuss peace framework

KYIV – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Dec 26 that he would meet US President Donald Trump on Dec 28 to discuss efforts to end Russia’s invasion.

“Over the weekend, I think on Sunday, in Florida, we will have a meeting with President Trump,” Mr Zelensky said in a message to journalists.

The latest round of US-Ukraine negotiations produced a 20-point plan to end the war, which has been sent to Moscow.

“We will discuss these documents, security guarantees,” Mr Zelensky said.

“As for sensitive issues, we will discuss Donbas and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, and we will certainly discuss other issues,” he added.

Mr Zelensky said this week there were still disagreements between Kyiv and Washington over the two issues.

Despite that, Ukraine won some concessions
in the latest plan, which would freeze the frontline and remove a requirement for Kyiv to legally renounce its bid to join NATO, Mr Zelensky said.

The Ukrainian leader also indicated the plan opened the way to eventually pulling his troops back in the eastern Donetsk region and establishing a demilitarised zone, positions Kyiv has previously been reluctant to accept.

The Kremlin said on Dec 26 that foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov held a telephone call with US officials to discuss the negotiations. It did not elaborate and has not indicated its position on the latest plan.

Moscow has up to now shown little inclination to abandon its hardline territorial demands that Ukraine fully withdraw from the eastern region of Donbas and end efforts to join NATO.

It also wants a ban on Western countries deploying peacekeeping troops in Ukraine and sweeping political and military restrictions that Kyiv says are tantamount to capitulation.

Mr Zelensky said Ukrainian negotiators were not directly in touch with Moscow, but that the United States acted as intermediary and was awaiting Moscow’s response to the latest proposal.

“I think we will know their official response in the coming days,” Mr Zelensky said. AFP