Zelenskyy Sees Progress in Revised US Peace Plan but Warns Territorial Issues Remain

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed cautious optimism on Monday regarding the evolving US peace proposal for ending the protracted Russia-Ukraine conflict, stating that recent revisions have made it more palatable to Kyiv despite persistent challenges over territorial concessions. Speaking after high-level discussions in Paris, Zelenskyy highlighted the plan's incremental improvements, marking a potential shift in the diplomatic stalemate that has defined Europe's largest war since World War II.

The upbeat assessment followed Zelenskyy's meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, part of an accelerated series of negotiations involving Ukraine, the United States, and European allies to overhaul the initial 28-point framework drafted between Washington and Moscow. Originally criticized for its heavy tilt toward Russian interests—including caps on Ukraine's military capabilities and barriers to NATO accession—the revised version now comprises just 19 points, with the existing frontline designated as the baseline for territorial talks, according to sources familiar with the deliberations.

Zelenskyy's remarks coincided with the Kremlin's announcement that President Vladimir Putin would convene on Tuesday with US envoy Steve Witkoff, whose involvement has faced questions following reports of his advisory role to a top Putin aide on pitching the plan to President Donald Trump. This comes on the heels of a productive Sunday session between Ukrainian and US officials, described positively by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as both sides labour to balance Kyiv's sovereignty demands against Moscow's maximalist claims.

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Macron characterised the ongoing talks as a pivotal preliminary stage, underscoring the necessity for inclusive European participation and ironclad security assurances for Ukraine post-ceasefire, including potential NATO-style guarantees. Zelenskyy, however, identified territorial integrity as the thorniest issue, rejecting outright Russian assertions of victories in key Donetsk and Kharkiv regions like Pokrovsk and Kupiansk, which he claimed Ukrainian forces have effectively repelled.

Even as diplomatic overtures intensify, the battlefield remains unforgiving, with Russian missile barrages striking Dnipro and claiming four lives while injuring dozens more, alongside a massive overnight drone assault involving 89 projectiles—most of which Ukraine's air defences neutralised. In retaliation, Ukraine targeted Russian oil facilities near Novorossiysk, prompting Kremlin accusations of economic sabotage, further complicating the fragile path toward a sustainable resolution.

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