WASHINGTON — European officials are convinced that Ukraine-Russia peace talks have reached a “decisive moment” this week, as President Trump’s officials prepare to speak directly with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky about a 20-point plan to end the war.
Zelensky shared on X that he’s discussing “Ukraine’s postwar reconstruction and economic development” with US officials on Wednesday — and “finalizing work on the 20 points of a fundamental document that could define the parameters for ending the war” after drafting it with European leaders.
Ukraine’s leader said he anticipates handing over the revised proposal to the US “in the near future.”
Negotiations on the peace plan are being accompanied by talks about eventual security guarantees for Ukraine and an economic recovery plan for Kyiv to rebuild after the war, the Washington Post reported.
All three topics are being discussed with both US and European officials. Ukraine would also potentially have to give up one-quarter of the contested Donetsk province but may be able to join the European Union, according to the outlet.
Trump told Politico in an interview Monday that the Ukrainians “have to play ball,” since Russia now has the “upper hand,” if they want the war to conclude — and that Zelensky should allow his nation to hold elections.
“They’re much bigger. They’re much stronger in that sense,” the president said of Moscow.
“I give the people of Ukraine and the military of Ukraine tremendous credit for the, you know, bravery and for the fighting and all of that,” he added. “But you know, at some point, size will win, generally.”
Trump told reporters at the Kennedy Center Honors on Sunday that he was also “a little bit disappointed that President Zelensky hasn’t yet read the proposal, that was as of a few hours ago.”
Zelensky has since hashed out its terms with French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz — including some of Russia’s maximalist demands that Ukraine reduce the size of its military and cede the contested Donbas region.
A demilitarized zone would divide both countries as well, roughly along the current cease-fire line of the war.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Wednesday that Russia’s understanding has been that Ukraine will not be eligible for NATO membership.
Almost 1.4 million soldiers — roughly 400,000 from Ukraine and around 1 million from Russia — have died in the conflict, per a Centre for Strategic and International Studies report put out in June this year.
Zelensky said Tuesday he’s willing to hold an election in “the next 60 to 90 days” if the Europeans and the US can help maintain safety for Ukrainian voters.
Trump’s peace envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have given him an ultimatum to accept the peace deal by Christmas Day, according to reports.
The White House declined to address the Christmas timeline but said Wednesday that Trump and his team are working hard to forge a deal. “The president has been clear that this war has gone on for far too long and he wants to stop the killing,” a White House official told The Post.
Wednesday’s conversation follows a sitdown at 10 Downing Street in London with Zelensky, Starmer, Macron and Merz over the revised peace proposal, which reduced an initial 28-point plan to 20 points.
Their so-called “Coalition of the Willing” talked Monday about the status of a cease-fire with Russia and agreed it was “a decisive moment for Ukraine and for collective security in the Euro-Atlantic area,” according to Politico.
On Thursday, that cohort will meet again to talk about Ukrainian security guarantees to prevent a future Russian invasion like the kind that started the war more than three years ago, according to Ukraine’s president.
“We believe that peace has no alternative, and the key questions are how to compel Russia to stop the killings and what specifically will deter Russia from a third invasion,” Zelensky said. “Thank you to everyone who stands with Ukraine!”
