Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy looks into the camera while delivering a video address to the nation in Kyiv, Ukraine. (AP) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Tuesday that his country was ready to move forward with a peace plan backed by the United States and that he was prepared to discuss its sensitive points with US President Donald Trump in talks that should also involve European partners.
Speaking to members of the “coalition of the willing”, according to a copy of his remarks seen by Reuters, Zelenskyy called on European leaders to agree on a framework for sending a “reassurance force” to Ukraine and to continue their support “for as long as Russia shows no willingness to end the war”.
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Talks between US and Ukrainian officials took place in Geneva on Sunday on an initial 28-point proposal aimed at advancing peace efforts. After the meeting, both sides said they had begun drafting an “updated and refined” version of the plan.
The proposal raised concerns in Kyiv and among allies, but Zelenskyy said late on Monday that, after discussions, the US-drafted plan now contained “fewer points” and “many of the right elements”, Reuters reported.
Ukraine’s National Defence and Security Council Secretary Rustem Umerov said on Tuesday that Kyiv and Washington had reached a “common understanding” on the core terms of the US proposal during the Geneva talks.
Umerov said Kyiv hoped to arrange a visit by Zelenskyy to the United States “at the earliest suitable date in November” to complete the remaining steps and finalise a deal with President Donald Trump.
