Ukraine is preparing to present a revised peace plan to the White House, as it seeks to avoid making territorial concessions to Russia.
Kyiv is set propose alternatives to the US after President Volodymyr Zelensky again ruled out surrendering land, saying he had no right to do so under Ukrainian or international law.
He made the comments as he met European and NATO leaders on Monday, part of a push to deter the US from backing a peace deal that includes significant concessions for Ukraine, which allies worry would leave it vulnerable to future invasions.
Meanwhile, the city of Sumy in northwestern Ukraine was left without power overnight after a Russian drone attack.
The region's governor said more than a dozen drones hit power infrastructure in what has become a pattern of nightly attacks. There have been no reported fatalities.
Zelensky's diplomatic tour across Europe follows intense discussions between US and Ukrainian negotiators over the weekend that did not result in an agreeable deal for Kyiv. Zelensky was scheduled to be briefed on those talks by his chief aide, who noted direct communication with US and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The Ukrainian president indicated his team could send a new proposal to the Americans as soon as Tuesday, according to AFP.
On the topic of territorial concessions, Zelensky stated: Russia is insisting that we give up territories, but we don't want to cede anything. He emphasized that such actions lack legitimacy under Ukrainian law, constitutional mandate, and international legal standards, asserting there is no moral justification to surrender land.
Zelensky has consistently maintained that changes to Ukraine's borders must receive public approval through a referendum.
He also revealed that a previously suggested 28-point peace plan from the US has been reduced to 20 points. No pro-Ukrainian items were discarded, nor was there any compromise regarding territorial discussions.
Critical issues include control of the eastern Donbas region and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. The initial draft proposed that Ukraine relinquish total control of Donbas to Russia, a region that Kremlin forces have not fully captured in nearly four years of conflict.
The ongoing meetings, including a hastily organized summit with leaders from the UK, France, and Germany, reflected strong allied support for Ukraine, emphasizing the need for robust security guarantees in any future peace deals.
Discussions also highlighted uncertainties about the nature of future defensive arrangements for Ukraine, with mixed responses from European defense officials regarding the proposition of deploying international troops.
Despite Moscow's claim of constructive talks with Washington, there are no indications that Russia is willing to adjust its demands established at the onset of the invasion in February 2022.
At the same time, ongoing comments from the Trump campaign point toward viewing Zelensky as a barrier to achieving a peace deal, a key foreign policy goal that Trump promised to address if re-elected.
