Zelenskyy sends top officials to US as peace negotiations enter new phase
Photo: President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Getty Images)
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded to RBC-Ukraine that NSDC Secretary Rustem Umerov and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Andrii Hnatov have flown to the United States for negotiations with the American delegation.
“There were a number of meetings between our delegation and the American side in Florida. We prepared some decisions and proposals based on our joint vision with the American side,” Zelenskyy said.
He also confirmed that immediately after the consultations, the American delegation traveled to Russia.
“As for what was discussed there — whether the talks were constructive or not — honestly, I cannot answer,” the president noted.
He emphasized that further negotiations have already been agreed upon.
“We agreed that we would discuss some sensitive issues with the involvement of 3+ countries in a broader format in Brussels… And after the American side’s visit to Russia, our two delegations will meet again in the United States,” Zelenskyy said.
He confirmed that Umerov and Hnatov have already departed for the U.S.
“I will know more, broader information after they meet and call me,” the president added.
Regarding the timing of the next contact with the American delegation, Zelenskyy said: “Today, probably… I think today, maybe tomorrow.”
U.S. peace plan
In November, the United States presented its version of a 28-point peace plan, some of which openly favored Russia. Because of this, Washington and Kyiv held two rounds of consultations — on November 23 in Geneva and on November 30 in Florida — to agree on language more acceptable to Ukraine.
On December 2, Donald Trump’s special representative Steve Witkoff, together with the U.S. president’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, flew to Moscow and discussed the updated document with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. After the meeting, Putin’s aide Yuri Ushakov said no compromise had been reached yet, but work continues; according to him, the Americans brought four additional documents related to ending the war.
Although Ushakov’s statements sounded like a rejection of the plan, the next day the dictator’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov insisted that the Kremlin had not dismissed the U.S. proposals.
Reuters reports that Witkoff and Kushner briefed Trump on what they called a “productive” meeting in Moscow. Details were not disclosed, but Trump told reporters that, according to his representatives, Putin “wants to end the war.”
According to the Associated Press, today, December 4, Witkoff and Kushner are expected to hold another round of talks with the head of the Ukrainian delegation, Rustem Umerov. The topic remains unchanged — discussing the parameters of a possible peace agreement.
