ALWAGHT- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Kiev and Washington have reached a “general consensus” on elements of a US-supported framework to end the nearly four-year conflict with Russia, while noting that the most crucial issues are still unresolved.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that while a 20-point US-backed plan to end the war in Ukraine has brought both sides closer on most issues, key disputes remain unresolved. Talks on control of eastern Ukraine and the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant have stalled and will need resolution at the leaders’ level, with Zelensky calling these “the most difficult points.”
The draft plan proposes freezing the current front line and turning contested areas in eastern Ukraine into demilitarized or “free economic zones.” While Zelensky said most positions have moved closer together, he noted that no consensus has been reached on Donetsk or the Zaporizhzhia plant. Russia demands Ukraine fully withdraw from Donbas, while the US proposes economic zones to bridge positions.
Joint management of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, proposed by the US, has been rejected by Kiev, with Zelensky questioning cooperation with Russia after ongoing hostilities. The framework also includes “strong” security guarantees for Ukraine, modeled on NATO’s Article 5, but Zelensky said these fall short of full NATO membership and rely on monitoring mechanisms and future bilateral commitments.
Moscow has been briefed on the US-Ukrainian talks and will now formulate its position. Putin’s conditions for peace include Ukraine ceding remaining Donbas territory and abandoning NATO aspirations, which he views as a direct threat to Russia’s security. Zelensky has previously suggested dropping NATO ambitions in exchange for Western security guarantees.
