Donbas as the biggest problem
It is the territory that remains the main stumbling block. Moscow is demanding that Ukraine also withdraw from parts of the Donetsk region, which the Russian army has been unable to occupy even after nearly four years of fighting. The objective is clear - full control of the Donbas, that is, the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
Kiev has a different idea. It wants to stop the fighting on the current front lines. Meanwhile, the United States has tried to find a compromise and has come up with the proposal of a free economic zone if Ukraine withdraws from the disputed territories. However, it is not yet clear how this would work in practice and whether it would be politically viable.
Zelensky repeatedly reminds that territorial concessions cannot be decided by politicians behind closed doors. According to him, they would have to be decided by Ukrainians in a referendum.
Nuclear power plant and safety guarantees
The Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant - the largest in Europe - is to be a special topic of negotiations. It lies dangerously close to the front line and is under the control of Russian forces, which has long raised fears of a serious accident.
Zelensky says the goal of the meeting with Trump is to "refine" the peace proposals while opening a discussion on economic cooperation with the US. He would not yet predict whether any agreement might be signed. What is certain, however, according to him, is that an agreement on security guarantees between Ukraine and the United States is almost ready.
The entire peace plan is ninety percent complete, he said. At the same time, Kiev insists that these are legally binding guarantees - experience shows that political promises alone have not stopped Russia.
Moscow remains silent, fighting continues
The White House has not yet commented on the meeting. In the past, Trump has repeatedly expressed frustration with the slow pace of negotiations, but has also indicated that he is ready to negotiate if there is a chance for real progress.
Zelensky hinted that some European leaders could join the talks online. On Friday, for example, he spoke with Finnish President Alexander Stubb about what he described as a noticeable shift in peace efforts.
The Kremlin, meanwhile, confirmed that Vladimir Putin's adviser Yury Ushakov had held talks with Trump administration officials on the U.S. proposals for a peace deal. But Moscow has so far remained silent - Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on the documents, saying it could jeopardize the negotiations.
While diplomats negotiate, the fighting is not letting up. Russia has also stepped up attacks on energy infrastructure in southern Ukraine, including Odessa. On Friday, a Russian attack on Kharkiv killed two people.
Zelensky adds that's what he wants to talk to Trump about, too - how to increase pressure on Moscow to be willing to agree to a just and sustainable peace.
He later added to Axios news agency that he is "ready to call a referendum on Trump's plan if Russia agrees to a ceasefire."
(Reuters)
