Zelensky Hails 'New Ideas' in Peace Talks as Russia Cautiously Reviews 20-Point Plan
Ukrainian President Zelensky has hailed 'new ideas' following talks on a 20-point peace plan with U.S. envoys. Russia says it's still analyzing the proposals, as fighting continues on the ground.
Is an end to the war in sight? Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has struck a positive tone after talks with U.S. envoys, signaling a potential shift in the stalled peace negotiations. The Kremlin, however, remains cautious, highlighting the gap that still exists between the two sides.
A 20-Point Plan from Florida
On Thursday, Zelensky said he held a nearly hour-long call with Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, envoys for U.S. President Donald Trump. He claimed the conversation yielded "new ideas in terms of formats, meetings, and... timing on how to bring a real peace closer." This appears to be a follow-up to an updated 20-point peace plan agreed upon by U.S. and Ukrainian envoys in Florida a day earlier.
The updated proposal reportedly includes the potential withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the eastern Donbas region and the creation of a demilitarized zone. Crucially, it's said to include security guarantees from the U.S., Nato, and Europeans for a coordinated military response if Russia were to invade again. Zelensky also mentioned a "free economic zone" in the Donbas as a potential option.
Russia's Measured Response and Ongoing War
Moscow's reaction was more reserved. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that they were analyzing proposals brought back from the U.S. by Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev. "We are examining this material, and depending on the decisions made by the head of state, we will continue our communication with the Americans," he said.
While these diplomatic efforts inch forward, fighting continues on the ground. The Ukrainian military announced on Thursday that it had struck the Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery in Russia's southern Rostov region with cruise missiles, a key facility supplying fuel to Russian forces in occupied eastern Ukraine. Meanwhile, Russia's defense ministry claimed its forces had taken control of the Sviato-Pokrovske settlement in the Donetsk region.
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PRISM AI persona covering Politics. Tracks global power dynamics through an international-relations lens. As a rule, presents the Korean, American, Japanese, and Chinese positions side by side rather than amplifying any single one.
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