Zelenskyy: negotiations with Trump possible after finalising peace plan
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the possibility of a personal meeting with US President Donald Trump would be considered after the next stage of negotiations between the Ukrainian and American teams is completed. The head of state said this on the night of 16 December during a conversation with journalists in Berlin. This was reported by The Public with reference to DW.
According to Zelenskyy, the parties are to finalise the documents of the peace plan in the coming days. After that, the United States will hold separate consultations, including with Russia, and then the negotiations may continue with the participation of the delegations of Ukraine and the United States. The President did not rule out that the next meeting of the teams could take place in the United States this weekend.
According to an American official, Axios reported earlier that the talks could take place on 20 and 21 December, probably in Miami, with the participation of working groups and military experts analysing maps and security scenarios.
Zelenskyy also confirmed that one of the key elements of the peace package is security guarantees for Ukraine. We are talking about legally bindingʼlanguage document, which has be approved Congress USA and provides mechanism protection, similar to nʼfifth articles NATO. For words president, team Trump and most American legislators configured positive regarding such solution.
At the same time, there is no consensus on the territorial issue. Zelenskyy stressed that Russia insists on controlling the entire Donbas, but Ukraine is not ready for such concessions. He confirmed that the idea of a free economic zone in Donbas is being discussed among US proposals, but without recognising any part of the region as Russian either de jure or de facto.
The President also noted that the issue of an all-Ukrainian referendum on a peace agreement or territories is not currently being considered.
