US to offer Zelenskyy economic benefits in exchange for giving up territory - NYT
Photo: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President’s special envoy Steve Witkoff (president.gov.ua)
The administration of US President Donald Trump is trying to persuade Ukraine to agree to a peace deal with Russia that could involve concessions on Donbas. In exchange, Washington is offering Kyiv potential economic benefits, The New York Times reports.
According to The New York Times, the US leader has stepped up efforts to persuade Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to reach an agreement with Moscow. Kyiv is being urged not to insist on retaining control of the occupied territories in the eastern regions.
Instead, according to the newspaper, the US is promising Ukraine potential economic benefits if Kyiv drops its objections to a deal, even if it is largely based on Russia’s terms.
Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to present Washington’s position to Zelenskyy during a meeting in Oslo today, October 20.
The US president’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, will join the talks remotely. This is stated in a Norwegian government announcement.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Finnish President Alexander Stubb are also expected to take part in the negotiations.
After meeting with Zelenskyy, US representatives will travel to Putin.
The day after the talks in Oslo, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are expected to travel to St. Petersburg, where they will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
According to The New York Times, Trump’s representatives will take the next step there in their efforts to demonstrate the benefits of striking deals with Putin, having secured the release of an American who had been held captive for a long time.
Talks involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, US President’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, and other US and European representatives are scheduled to take place today, October 20, in Oslo, the capital of Norway. Topics for discussion include further diplomatic steps toward ending the war in Ukraine.
In addition to the head of state, the Ukrainian delegation will include Foreign Intelligence Service chief Oleh Ivashchenko, Head of the Presidential Office Kyrylo Budanov, First Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Sergiy Kyslytsya, and Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Pavlo Palisa.
