Zelensky Ready To Discuss Differences In The United States Peace Proposal With Trump

President Trump when receiving President Zelensky at the White House 17 October. (Twitter/@WhiteHouse)

JAKARTA - President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday Ukraine was ready to advance a US-backed framework to end the war with Russia and discuss disputed points with President Donald Trump in talks that he said should involve European allies.

In a speech in front of what is known as a willing allied coalition, a copy of which has been seen by Reuters, President Zelensky urged European leaders to draw up a framework to deploy "symbing troops" to Ukraine and to continue to support Kyiv as long as Moscow does not show a desire to end its invasion.

US and Ukrainian officials have been trying to narrow the gap between them over Trump's plans to end Europe's deadliest and most devastating conflict since the Second World War, with Ukraine fearing it will be forced to accept a deal largely based on Russian terms, including territorial concessions.

"We firmly believe that security decisions related to Ukraine must include Ukraine, security decisions related to Europe must cover Europe. Because when something is decided without the knowledge of a country or its people, there is always a high risk that it will not work," President Zelensky said, according to a text. his speech, according to Al Arabiya from Reuters November 26.

"The framework is available, and we are ready to move forward together, with the US, with President Trump's personal involvement," he added.

Separately, President Trump said at an event at the White House he thought deals related to Ukraine were getting closer but did not provide other details, simply saying: "We will achieve it."

President Zelensky could visit the US in the next few days to finalize a deal with Trump, national security chief Kyiv Rustem Umerov said earlier on Tuesday, although there has been no direct confirmation of the visit from the US side.

Kyiv's message hinted that the intense diplomatic push by the Trump Administration could come to fruition, but any optimism could be short-lived, as Russia stressed it would not allow any agreement to deviate too far from its own goals.

Earlier, US and Ukrainian negotiators held talks on the latest US-backed peace plan in Geneva on Sunday.

The US Army Minister, Dan Marijuana, then met on Mondays and Tuesdays with Russian officials in Abu Dhabi, a spokesman said.

A Ukrainian official said Kyiv "supports the essence of the framework, and some of the most sensitive issues remain the subject of discussion between presidents."

Separately, White House Press Secretary Krypto Leavitt said on X, over the past week, the US had made "extraordinary progress towards a peace agreement by inviting Ukraine and Russia to negotiate."

"There are some complicated details, but it is not impossible, that must be resolved and will require further talks between Ukraine, Russia, and the United States," he added.

It is known that the 28-point peace plan that emerged last week surprised many parties in the US, Kyiv and European governments, sparking new concerns that the Trump Administration may be willing to push Ukraine to sign a peace deal that is heavily inclined towards Moscow.

The plan requires Kyiv to give up territory outside nearly 20 percent of the Ukrainian territory that Russia has captured since the massive invasion in February 2022, and to accept military restrictions and ban him from joining NATO. This is a condition that Kyiv has long rejected because it is considered tantamount to giving up.

On Monday, he said the latest peace plan included "precise" points after negotiations in Geneva over the weekend.

"Sensitive issues, the most sensitive points, I will discuss with President Trump," President Zelensky said in his evening video address.

President Zelensky said the process of drafting final documents would be difficult. Russia's intense attacks on Ukraine have left many skeptical about how peace can be achieved soon.

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the amended peace plan must reflect the "encouraging and content" of the understanding reached between President Putin and President Trump at a summit in Alaska.

"If Anchorage's passion and content are erased in terms of the main understanding we have made, of course, the situation will be very different (for Russia)," Foreign Minister Lavrov warned.