Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he is prepared to deepen discussions around a revised peace plan negotiated by Ukrainian and US officials in Geneva, indicating that the framework could evolve into more substantive agreements. His remarks came as US President Donald Trump announced that his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, will travel to Moscow next week to continue negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In his nightly address, Zelensky said he had reviewed the plan with Ukraine’s negotiating team. He noted that the principles outlined in the document could be developed into “deeper agreements” if they led to genuine security guarantees. He added that he hopes to maintain close coordination with Washington as talks progress.
Earlier in the day, Andriy Yermak, head of Ukraine’s presidential office, said Ukrainian and US negotiators had reached an agreement in principle on most aspects of the US drafted plan, though he emphasised that the proposal had undergone major revisions. The original 28 point draft has been reduced to a 19 point framework that both sides reviewed during weekend discussions in Geneva.
Zelensky is expected to seek a direct conversation with Trump, particularly on territorial issues, which remain the most contentious element of the negotiations. A Ukrainian diplomat told reporters that questions involving borders and sovereignty are among the most difficult for Kyiv to accept. Despite progress on several technical points, the diplomat said a final agreement is still far from certain.
Trump said on Tuesday that negotiators had made “tremendous progress” and that the plan had been “fine-tuned” with input from both Ukrainian and Russian sides. He said only a few disagreements remain. Trump also backed away from an earlier Thursday deadline for Ukraine to accept the proposal, saying the only meaningful deadline is when the conflict is resolved. He confirmed that Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll will meet with Ukrainian officials next week.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed the view that progress had been made, expressing optimism that an agreement could be reached soon, though he noted that some points require approval at the highest political level.
Russia’s response has been cautious. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said any amended peace plan must reflect understandings reached between Trump and Putin at their Alaska summit. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated that Russia remains open to negotiations and prefers a political and diplomatic resolution. Putin himself said last week that the proposal could form the basis of a settlement, although consultations with Moscow have so far been limited.
Meanwhile, Zelensky urged European leaders to develop a framework for a “reassurance force” to support Ukraine and maintain political backing from allied nations. During a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing, he encouraged continued European involvement in security planning. Following the talks, French President Emmanuel Macron said France and the United Kingdom would launch a workshop on coordinating security guarantees, with US participation. He also noted that European Union members are working on long-term financial support measures for Kyiv.
The conflict, now approaching its fourth year, has resulted in significant human and economic losses since it erupted in February 2022. As negotiations intensify, leaders on all sides are seeking pathways to a political resolution while preparing for the possibility of continued uncertainty.
