Leaders Zelensky and various European counterparts embark on a journey to the U.S., aiming to negotiate the particulars of a potential peace agreement concerning Russia.
The ongoing negotiations to end the war between Ukraine and Russia are centred around a potential bilateral meeting between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky. This crucial step towards peace is being facilitated by US President Donald Trump, who has met with both leaders and European officials to push for progress [1][2].
Zelensky has expressed his willingness to attend such a meeting, while Putin and his officials have yet to commit [2]. Trump remains hopeful about concluding the war, despite ongoing Russian strikes and Putin's apparent reluctance to engage meaningfully in peace talks. Putin appears more focused on improving US-Russian bilateral relations and obtaining concessions from the United States rather than seriously negotiating peace in Ukraine [1].
Key themes in the negotiations include:
- Security Guarantees for Ukraine: U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump's envoy Keith Kellogg, have prioritized discussions on concrete, legally binding, and multidimensional security guarantees to prevent future Russian aggression. Ukrainian leaders insist these guarantees cover military, diplomatic, and legal protections [2].
- Peace Talks: The possibility of a Putin-Zelensky meeting is central but remains uncertain. The U.S. is preparing to act if the bilateral meeting does not materialize soon [2].
- U.S.-Russia Relations: Putin seeks to restore full US-Russia relations as part of his broader strategy, potentially diverting focus from the Ukraine conflict and seeking economic engagement from the U.S., irrespective of progress in peace negotiations [1].
On Monday, Zelensky will visit Washington for a meeting with Trump. This will be Zelensky's first visit to Washington since a disagreement with Trump and Vice President JD Vance in February [3]. French President Emmanuel Macron will also be present and is expected to ask Trump about the extent of Washington's readiness to contribute to security guarantees for Ukraine [4].
The European Commission chief, Ursula von der Leyen, and other leaders will also attend the meeting [3]. Despite concerns in Europe about potential U.S. pressure on Ukraine to accept Russia's terms, Zelensky has pushed back against ceding territory but is ready to discuss the issue in the context of a trilateral summit with Trump and Putin [2].
In the past, Russia has annexed Crimea in 2014 and, in 2022, annexed four Ukrainian regions - Donetsk, Kherson, Lugansk, and Zaporizhzhia - without fully capturing them [5]. Russia has until now insisted that Ukraine pull its forces out of all four regions as a precondition to any deal [5]. However, recent reports suggest that Russia may be willing to freeze the front line in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia in exchange for Ukrainian concessions [6].
Trump, in a phone call with European leaders, expressed inclination to support a Russian demand for territory in the Donbas, which includes Donetsk and Lugansk [5]. He also mentioned the possibility of a NATO-style collective defense guarantee for Ukraine, which would be outside the framework of the Western military alliance that Ukraine wants to join [5].
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski stated that pressure should be applied to the aggressor, not the victim of aggression [7]. As the negotiations continue, the international community watches closely, hoping for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
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