Zelenskyy Identifies Key Issues in U.S. Peace Proposal
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has highlighted significant concerns regarding a proposed U.S. peace plan aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict with Russia. Speaking on November 6, 2023, Zelenskyy identified the potential legal recognition of Russian sovereignty over occupied territories in eastern Ukraine as a “main problem” in the negotiations. The remarks come as U.S. officials, including President Donald Trump, advocate for a resolution to the nearly four-year war.
Over the weekend, Ukrainian and American representatives convened in Geneva, Switzerland, to discuss a 28-point proposal presented by the White House. This meeting included talks about a possible visit by Zelenskyy to the U.S. as part of Trump’s efforts to secure an agreement before Thanksgiving. Reports indicate that Trump described the deadline as flexible, stating that the proposal shared last week was “not my final” plan.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who attended the discussions in Geneva, characterized the talks as having made “very, very meaningful” progress. He acknowledged, however, that challenges remain to be addressed. “There’s still some work left to do and that’s what our teams are going to be doing right now,” Rubio stated.
Zelenskyy articulated his concerns while addressing Sweden’s parliament. He emphasized that the U.S. proposal’s call for recognizing parts of Ukraine as no longer under its jurisdiction undermines the principle of territorial integrity. “Putin wants legal recognition to what he has stolen, to break the principle of territorial integrity and sovereignty,” he asserted. “That’s the main problem. You all understand what that means.”
Despite the challenges, Finnish President Alexander Stubb acknowledged some advancements made during the high-stakes discussions. He noted that “major issues remain to be resolved” regarding the U.S. peace proposal. Rubio expressed optimism, describing the Geneva talks as “probably the most productive day we have had on this issue” since Trump resumed office for his second term in January.
While the U.S. aims to refine the peace framework, the Kremlin has yet to receive any official updates on the revisions discussed. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that they are monitoring reports from Geneva but have not seen any formal amendments to the plan. He also mentioned that Russian forces would continue their operations if Ukraine rejected the proposal, which Russia does not officially recognize as a war.
The 28-point plan, which has raised concerns among European allies for being perceived as overly favorable to Russia, has not garnered full support from Ukrainian officials. Olga Stefanishyna, Ukraine’s Ambassador to the U.S., remarked that her country does not agree with all the terms outlined in the draft, emphasizing that it fails to address the fundamental issues of justice and truth regarding the conflict. “This plan is not about justice and the truth of this war and the aggression,” she stated. “It’s about ending the war and stopping the military engagement.”
As the discussions continue, both sides appear committed to finding common ground, but significant hurdles remain. The coming days will be crucial in determining whether a viable peace agreement can be reached.
