Zelenskyy to Meet with Trump Soon
- Former President Donald TrumpS team is reportedly engaged in behind-the-scenes talks with Ukrainian and Russian officials, seeking a potential resolution to the ongoing conflict.
- Trump's negotiating delegation includes special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
- The involvement of Kushner, who played a significant role in previous Middle East peace efforts, signals a serious attempt to leverage diplomatic channels.
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Trump-Era Negotiations Aim to End Ukraine War
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Former President Donald TrumpS team is reportedly engaged in behind-the-scenes talks with Ukrainian and Russian officials, seeking a potential resolution to the ongoing conflict. These efforts, involving key figures from Trump’s administration, are occurring alongside Ukraine’s public articulation of a 10-point peace plan.
Last Updated: December 26, 2023, 09:49:58 PST
Negotiations and Key Players
Trump’s negotiating delegation includes special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Recent discussions have focused on finding a pathway to peace,with intensive talks held with Ukrainian officials. Zelensky confirmed speaking with Witkoff and Kushner on Thursday, December 21, 2023. Prior to that, negotiations took place in Berlin over two days in December, involving European delegations and consistent communication with Washington.
The involvement of Kushner, who played a significant role in previous Middle East peace efforts, signals a serious attempt to leverage diplomatic channels. Witkoff, a real estate executive, has been a long-time advisor to Trump.
Zelensky’s Peace Plan
After maintaining secrecy for an extended period, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky publicly unveiled a 10-point peace plan on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2023. A central component of the plan is the establishment of security guarantees for Ukraine, mirroring the collective defence principle of Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty Association (NATO) NATO Article 5.
The plan also addresses issues such as the restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity, justice for war crimes, and environmental protection. The full details of the plan are available on the Ukrainian President’s official website The Peace Formula of Ukraine.
Russian Response and Sticking Points
Moscow’s reaction to the negotiations and Zelensky’s peace plan has been restrained. The primary obstacle to progress remains Russia’s insistence on asserting control over the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of the Donbas, despite not currently exercising full military control over those territories.
Ukrainian forces continue to defend these areas and are unwilling to cede control. This territorial dispute represents a major impediment to any potential agreement. Russia formally annexed Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions in September 2022, a move widely condemned by the international community Reuters – Putin says Russia will annex four Ukrainian regions.
