Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has given a positive assessment of a conversation he had with US envoys on how to end the Russia-Ukraine war.
Zelensky said Thursday's call with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, which lasted nearly an hour, had yielded new ideas in terms of formats, meetings, and... timing on how to bring a real peace closer.
He spoke a day after providing details of an updated 20-point peace plan, agreed by US and Ukrainian envoys in Florida.
Zelensky said he had asked Witkoff and Kushner to convey Christmas greetings to US President Donald Trump and the entire Trump family.
The Kremlin stated it was analyzing the proposals brought back from the US by a Russian envoy.
Trump and his envoys have been holding talks with both Ukraine and Russia in an effort to reach a deal to end the war which began with Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
There appears to have been some progress, with Zelensky praising good ideas put forward by Witkoff and Kushner.
Zelensky remarked that it had been an active day for Ukrainian diplomacy, as he detailed discussions with the US envoys.
He acknowledged ongoing challenges but stated, together with the American team, we understand how to put all of this in place.
Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov is expected to speak again with the two envoys soon.
The 20-point peace plan, described as an update to a previous proposal drafted by Witkoff and Russian negotiators, aims to balance both parties' needs. Zelensky indicated it includes security guarantees from the US, NATO, and European allies.
On Ukraine's eastern Donbas region, a free economic zone has been suggested as a potential solution. Any areas from which Ukrainian troops would withdraw would need to be policed by Ukraine.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov mentioned that Moscow is currently reviewing the proposals passed on by Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev.
Despite these diplomatic efforts, ground fighting continues. The Ukrainian military reported significant strikes on a major Russian oil refinery, vital for military operations in occupied areas.
