Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has given a positive assessment of a conversation he had with US envoys on how to end the Russia-Ukraine war.
Zelensky said Thursday's call with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, which lasted nearly an hour, had yielded 'new ideas in terms of formats, meetings, and... timing on how to bring a real peace closer'. He spoke a day after giving details of an updated 20-point peace plan, agreed by US and Ukrainian envoys in Florida.
Zelensky said he had asked Witkoff and Kushner to pass along Christmas greetings to US President Donald Trump 'and the entire Trump family'.
The Kremlin said it was analysing proposals brought back from the US by a Russian envoy.
Trump and his envoys have been holding talks with both Ukraine and Russia in an effort to reach a deal to end the war, which started with Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
There appears to have been some progress in recent days with Ukraine's president praising the 'good ideas' put forward by Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Kushner. Zelensky noted it had been an 'active day' for his country's diplomacy during discussions with the US envoys.
He conceded that there was still 'work to be done on sensitive issues' but added that 'together with the American team, we understand how to put all of this in place.' Zelensky also mentioned that the Ukrainian negotiator, Rustem Umerov, would engage with the two envoys soon.
The new 20-point peace plan, seen as an update to previous drafts, offers potential concessions including the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops and the creation of a demilitarized zone. The plan outlines that any area vacated by Ukrainian forces would need to be monitored to ensure security.
As diplomatic efforts continue, fighting on the ground persists. Ukrainian forces reportedly targeted a key Russian oil refinery, while Russia claimed control over a settlement in the Donetsk region.
Zelensky said Thursday's call with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, which lasted nearly an hour, had yielded 'new ideas in terms of formats, meetings, and... timing on how to bring a real peace closer'. He spoke a day after giving details of an updated 20-point peace plan, agreed by US and Ukrainian envoys in Florida.
Zelensky said he had asked Witkoff and Kushner to pass along Christmas greetings to US President Donald Trump 'and the entire Trump family'.
The Kremlin said it was analysing proposals brought back from the US by a Russian envoy.
Trump and his envoys have been holding talks with both Ukraine and Russia in an effort to reach a deal to end the war, which started with Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
There appears to have been some progress in recent days with Ukraine's president praising the 'good ideas' put forward by Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Kushner. Zelensky noted it had been an 'active day' for his country's diplomacy during discussions with the US envoys.
He conceded that there was still 'work to be done on sensitive issues' but added that 'together with the American team, we understand how to put all of this in place.' Zelensky also mentioned that the Ukrainian negotiator, Rustem Umerov, would engage with the two envoys soon.
The new 20-point peace plan, seen as an update to previous drafts, offers potential concessions including the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops and the creation of a demilitarized zone. The plan outlines that any area vacated by Ukrainian forces would need to be monitored to ensure security.
As diplomatic efforts continue, fighting on the ground persists. Ukrainian forces reportedly targeted a key Russian oil refinery, while Russia claimed control over a settlement in the Donetsk region.
