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Ukrainian President Discusses Peace Plan With US Envoys Amid Ongoing Hostilities

2025-12-26

The BareStory

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held talks on December 25 with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner regarding a potential peace deal to end the war with Russia. In a statement, Zelenskyy described the conversation as "very good" and said they discussed "certain substantive details" of the diplomatic work. Following the discussion, Zelenskyy announced on Friday that he and U.S. President Trump had agreed to meet "in the near future."

The talks are part of a wider U.S. diplomatic effort that has also involved contact with Russian representatives. Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev met with U.S. envoys in Florida over the weekend, and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed on Friday that dialogue with the U.S. would continue. According to a statement attributed to Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, there has been "slow but steady progress" in peace talks.

Proposals discussed include a plan, previously floated by Zelenskyy, for a Ukrainian troop withdrawal from the Donbas region, provided that Moscow also pulls back its forces to create a demilitarized zone monitored by international forces. Zelenskyy also stated that any final peace agreement would need to be approved by a referendum. Russia has not publicly agreed to a withdrawal and has insisted that Ukraine cede its remaining territory in the Donbas region.

The diplomatic initiatives are taking place as military actions continue. Russian missile and drone bombardments of Ukrainian cities occurred in the days before Christmas, and officials in Kyiv claim the attacks on the power grid aim to "weaponize winter." Into Friday, Russian drone attacks reportedly caused power outages in Mykolaiv. Separately, a Russian general was killed by a car bomb in Moscow. On Thursday, Ukraine’s military said it struck an oil refinery in Russia's Rostov region.

Left Perspective

  • President Zelenskyy is actively pursuing a diplomatic solution with U.S. involvement.
  • Ukraine has proposed a specific plan for de-escalation in the Donbas region.
  • Ukraine continues to face and respond to military aggression amid peace talks.

Right Perspective

  • Russia is engaged in dialogue with U.S. envoys and sees progress in the talks.
  • Russia maintains a firm condition for peace, centered on territorial control.
  • Russia is conducting military operations while also facing attacks on its own soil.

How it may affect me

As a U.S. reader:

• Direct U.S. diplomatic involvement, including a planned presidential meeting, may alter America's foreign policy and long-term commitments in the region.

• The success of U.S.-led talks is uncertain due to conflicting Russian and Ukrainian demands, which may affect future American diplomatic or material support.

• A potential peace deal brokered by the U.S. would be subject to a Ukrainian referendum, adding a variable that could delay or alter the outcome.

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