Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that territorial issues are the most difficult in the current negotiations over ending the war with Russia.
During a news conference in Paris on Monday, Zelensky said Kyiv’s priorities in the negotiations were “first and foremost, protection and security guarantees, guarantees of Ukraine’s independence and the preservation of our sovereignty.”
“Frankly, the territorial issue is the most difficult,” he said.
Remember: Under the original US proposal released last month, Ukraine would have to give up parts of the Donetsk region that have been illegally annexed but not occupied by Russia. The plan proposed that the “entirety” of Crimea, Luhansk and Donetsk be recognized as “de-facto Russian.”
Zelensky said money and reconstruction, “without the presence of European partners, are not easy to accept, because the money is in Europe.”
The original version of the US plan proposed that $100 billion in frozen Russian assets, most of which are held in Europe, would be used to rebuild Ukraine. The US would receive 50% of the profits and Europe would also invest $100 billion, according to the US blueprint.
“We are working to ensure that there will be no third Russian invasion and that there will be no breach of the agreements on ending the war,” Zelensky said, adding that he hoped to hold talks with US President Donald Trump after the visit to Russia of Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff.