Putin to end the war had failed, recently slapped new sanctions on Russian oil firms
ROME:
President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday said he planned to send the United States revised proposals “in the near future” on ending Russia’s war on Ukraine, after meeting with European allies to strategize on their next steps.
US President Donald Trump is pressuring Kyiv to accept a deal put forward by Washington, the initial version of which was criticised by Ukraine’s allies as overly favourable to Russia.
Writing on X after meetings with European allies this week, Zelensky said the “Ukrainian and European components are now more developed, and we are ready to present them to our partners in the US”.
“In the near future, we will be ready to send the refined documents to the United States,” he said. On Monday, he had said the proposals could be sent to Washington on Tuesday. Trump, who earlier accused Zelensky of not reading the latest US proposals, said Russia had the “upper hand” in the conflict, in an interview with Politico published on Tuesday.
He also accused Kyiv of “using war” to avoid elections, which have been postponed under the imposition of martial law since Russia invaded its neighbour.
“You know, they talk about a democracy, but it gets to a point where it’s not a democracy anymore,” Trump said.
Without martial law, a Ukrainian presidential election would have been due in March 2024.
‘No legal right’
Zelensky on Monday held talks with European leaders in London and Brussels. On Tuesday, he met with Pope Leo XIV and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Washington’s proposals involved Ukraine surrendering land that Russia has not captured — the entire Donbas region — in return for security promises that fall short of Kyiv’s aspirations to join NATO.
Zelensky on Monday said Washington’s 28-point plan had been reduced to 20 points after US-Ukraine talks at the weekend.
During a televised event on Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin called Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region Russia’s “historical territory”.
“This territory is important; it is our historical territory, absolutely,” he said.
Trump criticises Europe
Trump has blown hot and cold on Ukraine since returning to office in January, initially chastising Zelensky for not being grateful for US support.
But he was also frustrated that efforts to persuade Putin to end the war had failed to produce results, and he recently slapped new sanctions on Russian oil firms.
European allies have expressed solidarity with Ukraine.
In the Politico interview, Trump criticised Europe’s role, saying: “They talk but they don’t produce.”
Meloni, who positions herself as a bridge between Trump and Europe, has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine since Russia’s invasion, although one of her coalition allies, Matteo Salvini’s League party, is more sceptical of aid for Kyiv.
