Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said proposals being negotiated with the United States to end Russia’s nearly four-year war against Ukraine could be finalized within days and then presented to Moscow.
Speaking after talks with U.S. officials in Berlin on Monday, Zelenskyy said the draft peace plan was not perfect but workable, although major issues remain unresolved, including the future of Ukrainian territories occupied by Russian forces.
U.S.-led diplomatic efforts appear to be gaining momentum, with American officials saying there is agreement with Ukraine and European partners on about 90 percent of the U.S.-authored peace framework. U.S. President Donald Trump said a peace settlement is closer than ever before.
Zelenskyy said discussions in Berlin brought negotiators close to an agreement on strong security guarantees for Ukraine. A NATO country official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the proposal is based on Western support to keep Ukraine’s military strong.
Under the plan, European countries would lead a multinational force to help secure Ukraine by land, sea and air, while the United States would head a ceasefire monitoring and verification mechanism with international participation, the official said.
However, the focus is now shifting to Moscow, where Russian President Vladimir Putin may oppose parts of the proposal, including postwar security guarantees for Ukraine.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated on Tuesday that Russia wants a comprehensive peace deal rather than a temporary truce. He said Moscow would not accept solutions that merely give Ukraine time to regroup before continuing the war.
Zelenskyy said the land issue remains a key obstacle. He stressed that Ukraine will not recognize Russian control over any part of the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine, which includes Luhansk and Donetsk. Russian forces do not fully control either region, although Trump has previously suggested Ukraine may have to concede territory.
Zelenskyy said the United States is exploring compromise ideas, including the proposal of a free economic zone in the Donbas, but stressed that such a zone would not be under Russian control.
Putin is seeking international recognition of Russian control over parts of four Ukrainian regions seized by his forces, as well as Crimea, which Moscow illegally annexed in 2014.
Zelenskyy warned that if Putin rejects diplomatic efforts, Ukraine will seek stronger Western pressure on Russia, including tougher sanctions and increased military assistance such as enhanced air defense systems and long-range weapons.
He said Ukraine and the United States are preparing up to five documents related to the peace framework, with several focused on security arrangements.
Zelenskyy described the Berlin talks as positive, saying they demonstrated unity among the United States, Europe and Ukraine.