Amid paused-but-persistent diplomacy, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy signaled willingness to push a US-backed peace plan and to discuss its disputed points with U.S. President Donald Trump. Officials in Kyiv and Washington have described the talks as a stepping-stone toward ending the war with Russia, with sessions centered in Abu Dhabi and ongoing coordination with Washington. Zelenskiy’s remarks suggest a push to advance the framework even as negotiators work through sensitive issues that remain unresolved.
Zelenskiy indicated that Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Ukraine’s security officials are participating in the discussions, with Putin to be consulted on next steps. The talks have drawn speculation about a possible meeting between Zelenskiy and Trump in the near future, with Kyiv hoping for continued cooperation from Washington as it weighs concessions in the plan that many view as containing security guarantees for Kyiv and potential terms on the status of seized territories.
The key disputed points include security guarantees for Ukraine and Vladimir Putin’s demand for legal recognition of territory Russia has seized, along with questions about concessions Kyiv might concede in exchange for a peace deal. While some accounts suggest a common understanding on the US peace plan is emerging and amendments are being discussed, Moscow’s formal approval and final text remain unresolved. Putin has not yet been consulted on the latest draft in some lines of reporting, and both sides have trimmed the original plan.
Overall, Zelenskiy’s comments reflect a cautious optimism: Ukraine signals willingness to engage with Washington on a path to end the war, with a potential Trump–Zelenskiy meeting on the horizon and a continuing dialogue with Kyiv’s security establishment. The ultimate objective remains securing long-term terms, security guarantees, and arrangements outlined in the US peace framework, with a view toward an eventual political settlement that could be endorsed by both Kyiv and Moscow.
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