Zelensky says Ukraine territory ‘most difficult’ issue, as US envoy prepares to meet Putin

President Zelensky said Kiev’s priorities in peace talks with Russia to end the war are to protect Ukraine’s sovereignty and provide strong security guarantees.

While Russia continues to demand that Ukraine give up territories it holds in the Eastern Donbas region, Zelensky said “the most difficult issue is the territorial issue” – something Kiev claims it will never do.

He was speaking after meeting French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, where he attended a meeting with European leaders including Britain, Germany, Poland and Italy.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian and US negotiators completed a two-day meeting in Florida to revise the peace plan, which is considered to be in Russia’s favor.

The White House struck a positive tone during Monday’s talks, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt saying the administration was “very optimistic” about reaching an agreement to end the war.

Zelensky was more cautious, writing in X that the talks were “very constructive” but that there were “some difficult issues that still need to be worked out.”

US special envoy Steve Witkoff, who attended talks with the Ukrainian delegation, set out for Russia on Tuesday to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. They will be joined by Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law and advisor.

Witkoff met with Zelensky, Macron, Ukrainian chief negotiator Rustem Umerov and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and is expected to convey the outcome of the talks to Putin.

Last week, Putin said Russia had been shown a draft peace plan by the Americans and that it could be the “basis” for a future agreement to end the war.

First draft of US-Russia peace plan distributed in November It caused consternation in Kiev and Europe.

In addition to leaning heavily on Moscow’s demands, it also dictated how many billions of dollars of assets would be available. frozen Russian assets investments currently held in European financial institutions should be made and the conditions for Kiev’s access to EU markets should be determined.

However, Macron said that currently “there is no finalized peace plan to speak of.” He also insisted that such a proposal could only be resolved with input from Ukraine and Europe.

European leaders have been scrambling for a place at the negotiating table since the peace plan was leaked and have called on the United States to be involved in drafting any future agreement.

Macron said the territorial issue “can only be resolved by President Zelensky” and noted that issues of freezing Russia’s assets, security guarantees and EU accession should also extend to European nations.

But the French leader also praised Donald Trump’s administration’s efforts to end the conflict, which began with Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014 and continued with the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

“Now we are waiting for Russia’s answer: Are they ready to stop fighting and make peace? I would like to point out that the Russians said no three, four times.” “So it looks like they’re in no rush.”

Throughout the year, Moscow appeared preoccupied with US attempts to end the war or negotiate a ceasefire, but many of its demands are seen as directly contrary to Ukraine’s sovereignty and unacceptable to Kiev.

While the land issue is the major sticking point, the issue of security guarantees for Kiev has also become controversial.

Kiev and its European partners are keen for Ukraine to be given security guarantees, such as NATO membership, that would protect it from being attacked again.

However, Russia is strongly against this and Donald Trump has stated that he will not allow Ukraine to join the military alliance.

Outside the negotiating table, the war continues.

Four people were killed and 40 others were injured in Russia’s missile attack on the eastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro on Monday morning, officials said.

Unconfirmed reports say a ballistic missile was used in the attack.

While videos shared online showed a huge explosion on the side of the highway, local media reported that an office block, cars and shops were hit or severely damaged.

“We are trying with all our strength to end this war and end this war honorably,” Zelensky said in Paris. he said.

“Russia must end this war it started, it is its war and it is in its power to end it.”

The latest diplomatic move comes at a time when Zelensky is mired in a serious corruption scandal. Chief of General Staff Andriy Yermak, who also led the Ukrainian delegation in the peace talks, He resigned on Friday after anti-corruption investigators raided his home – although he has not been accused of any wrongdoing. Two cabinet ministers were also dismissed.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump said Ukraine had “some tough little problems,” referring to the scandal and reiterating his view that both Russia and Ukraine want to end the war.