Overview
- Volodymyr Zelensky says the U.S. envisions Ukrainian forces withdrawing from parts of Donetsk to create a demilitarized or economic zone, with Russia pulling back from areas of Sumy, Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk but remaining in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.
- Control of Donetsk and the status of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant remain the main unresolved issues in the talks.
- Ukraine has delivered a revised 20-point package to Washington that includes security guarantees and reconstruction plans developed with France, Germany and the UK.
- Zelensky insists territorial decisions must be approved by Ukrainians through an election or a referendum, while President Trump is described by the White House as extremely frustrated and pushing for swift action as Europeans organize further meetings.
- Russia has engaged in parallel contacts but has not accepted the revised plan, and the EU moved to cement the legal basis for immobilizing Russian assets as leaders prepare financing discussions next week; a senior official also says fast-track EU membership for Ukraine by 2027 is under consideration in some proposals.