Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has revealed a significant diplomatic conversation with key representatives of former U.S. President Donald Trump, marking a continued push to find an end to the ongoing war with Russia.
High-Level Discussion on Ending the Conflict
On Thursday, December 25, President Zelenskyy announced he held an approximately hour-long discussion with Steve Witkoff, Donald Trump's special envoy, and Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner. The talks focused squarely on strategies to conclude the nearly four-year-long conflict. Zelenskyy, communicating via the Telegram app, characterized the exchange as a "really good conversation" that covered many details and productive ideas.
He indicated the dialogue yielded "some new ideas on how to bring the real peace closer," touching on potential formats for negotiations, future meetings, and the critical issue of a timeline for peace. This engagement underscores Trump's persistent drive to broker a deal, with efforts led by Witkoff and Kushner reportedly making gradual progress in recent weeks.
A Revised Draft Peace Plan Emerges
The diplomatic talks follow Zelenskyy's presentation earlier this week of a 20-point draft peace plan, which he described as the principal framework for ending the hostilities. This document is a condensed version of an original 28-point proposal that the United States had previously discussed with Russian officials.
The earlier, more extensive plan faced widespread criticism for appearing to primarily benefit Moscow, as it included demands for Kyiv to cede occupied territory and accept limitations on its military capabilities. While the new 20-point draft represents a streamlined approach, Zelenskyy acknowledged that key territorial disputes remain unresolved. He emphasized that a direct meeting with Donald Trump would be necessary to address the most sensitive and contentious issues.
Ongoing Negotiations and International Response
On the same day, the Kremlin confirmed it is reviewing documents related to ending the war. Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that Moscow is analyzing materials brought from the United States by Russia's special envoy, Kirill Dmitriev. The White House did not provide an immediate comment when approached by Reuters.
Zelenskyy noted that Ukraine's lead negotiator, Rustem Umerov, was scheduled for another discussion with American counterparts later on Thursday. Reiterating his administration's commitment, Zelenskyy said, "We are truly working 24/7 to bring closer the end of this brutal Russian war against Ukraine and to ensure that all documents and steps are realistic, effective, and reliable."
The flurry of diplomatic activity highlights the complex and urgent efforts to chart a path toward peace, with high-level backchannel discussions playing a pivotal role alongside formal negotiation frameworks.
