Ukraine Urges Accelerated Peace Talks, Cites Trump as Key Broker
Kyiv is pushing for a swift resolution to the nearly four-year-old war with Russia, asserting that only U.S. President Donald Trump possesses the influence to secure a lasting peace agreement. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stated that a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin is essential to resolve the most challenging remaining issues.
“Only Trump can stop the war,” Sybiha told Reuters in Kyiv, emphasizing the perceived importance of U.S. Involvement. He indicated Ukraine is eager to capitalize on the current momentum in U.S.-brokered talks, particularly before the focus shifts to the U.S. Congressional midterm elections in November.
While a 20-point peace plan has served as the foundation for recent trilateral negotiations, Sybiha acknowledged that “a few” critical points remain unresolved, requiring direct engagement at the leadership level. These sticking points center primarily on territorial disputes.
Russia continues to demand the cession of the remaining 20% of the Donetsk region, which its forces have yet to occupy, a demand Kyiv firmly rejects. Ukraine, conversely, seeks control over the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, currently under Russian occupation.
Recent trilateral talks held in Abu Dhabi yielded no significant breakthroughs, although an exchange of 314 prisoners of war – the first such swap since October – was successfully completed. President Zelensky revealed that the U.S. Has proposed a new round of negotiations in Miami within the coming week, an offer Ukraine has accepted.
Sybiha, who assumed his post in 2024, expressed optimism about the progress made, stating, “My assessment is we have momentum, that’s true. We need consolidation or mobilisation of these peace efforts and we’re ready to speed up.”
The conflict, which escalated with Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, has resulted in Russia occupying nearly a fifth of Ukraine’s territory, including Crimea and parts of eastern Ukraine. Russian forces have also systematically targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
Despite the ongoing conflict, analysts estimate that Russia has only gained approximately 1.3% of Ukrainian territory since the beginning of 2023.
According to Zelensky, the U.S. Is aiming for a resolution before the summer, and Ukraine has presented a proposed sequencing plan, though details remain undisclosed. Sources indicate discussions have included a draft agreement with Russia by March and a potential referendum in Ukraine alongside elections in May.
Ukraine is prioritizing the acquisition of robust Western security guarantees to deter future Russian aggression once a ceasefire is established. Sybiha confirmed that the U.S. Has signaled its willingness to seek Congressional ratification of these guarantees, providing a security “backstop” for the peace deal, though not involving the deployment of U.S. Troops to Ukraine.
“I personally do not believe, at this stage, in any security infrastructure or architecture without the Americans… We must have them with us – and they are in the process. That’s a huge, huge achievement,” Sybiha said.
A coalition of willing nations, including Britain and France, has pledged participation in a proposed U.S.-led ceasefire monitoring and verification mechanism, likely utilizing drones, sensors, and satellites rather than ground troops. Sybiha also mentioned that several other countries, beyond Britain and France, have indicated their readiness to contribute troops to Ukraine as a deterrent force, but declined to name them.
Ukraine is also seeking a security framework similar to NATO’s Article Five, which considers an attack on one member state as an attack on all. Ukraine’s prospective membership in the European Union is also viewed as a crucial element of its future security.
Zelensky has voiced concerns regarding potential bilateral talks between Russia and the U.S., specifically a reported $12 trillion investment proposal from Moscow. Sybiha stated that any such discussions that could compromise Ukraine’s sovereignty or security would be unacceptable.
He firmly asserted that any recognition of Russian sovereignty over Crimea or the Donbas region would be “legally void,” stating, “We will never recognise this. And it will be a violation of international law. This was not about Ukraine. It’s about principle.”
