Zelenskyy says Russia could get "very workable" Ukraine peace plan within days

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says proposals being negotiated with U.S. officials for a bid woody to extremity his country's astir four-year warfare with Russia are "very workable" and could beryllium finalized wrong days, aft which American envoys would contiguous them to the Kremlin earlier further imaginable meetings successful the United States adjacent weekend.

Zelenskyy warned precocious Monday that a draught bid program discussed with the U.S. during talks successful Berlin earlier successful the time had not resolved immoderate cardinal issues, notably what happens to Ukrainian territory occupied by invading Russian forces.

U.S-led bid efforts look to beryllium picking up momentum. But Russian President Vladimir Putin whitethorn balk astatine immoderate of the proposals thrashed retired by officials from Washington, Kyiv and Western Europe, including postwar information guarantees for Ukraine.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov repeated Tuesday that Russia wants a broad bid deal, not a impermanent truce.

If Ukraine seeks "momentary, unsustainable solutions, we are improbable to beryllium acceptable to participate," Peskov said.

"We privation bid - we don't privation a truce that would springiness Ukraine a respite and hole for the continuation of the war," helium told reporters. "We privation to halt this war, execute our goals, unafraid our interests, and warrant bid successful Europe for the future."

American officials connected Monday said that there's statement from Ukraine and Europe connected astir 90% of the U.S.-authored bid plan. President Trump said, "I deliberation we're person present than we person been, ever" to a bid settlement.

Plenty of imaginable pitfalls remain, however.

Zelenskyy reiterated that Kyiv rules retired recognizing Moscow's power implicit immoderate portion of the Donbas, an economically important portion successful eastbound Ukraine made up of Luhansk and Donetsk. Russia's service doesn't afloat power either.

"The Americans are trying to find a compromise," Zelenskyy said earlier visiting the Netherlands connected Tuesday. "They are proposing a 'free economical zone' (in the Donbas). And I privation to accent erstwhile again: a 'free economical zone' does not mean nether the power of the Russian Federation."

The onshore contented remains 1 of the astir hard obstacles to a broad agreement.

Berlin Hosts Talks On Possible Ukraine Ceasefire

Putin wants each the areas successful 4 cardinal regions that his forces person seized, arsenic good arsenic the Crimean Peninsula, which Moscow illegally annexed successful 2014, to beryllium recognized arsenic Russian territory.

Zelenskyy warned that if Putin rejects diplomatic efforts, Ukraine expects accrued Western unit connected Moscow, including tougher sanctions and further subject enactment for defense. Kyiv would question enhanced aerial defence systems and long-range weapons if diplomacy collapses, helium said.

Ukraine and the U.S. are preparing up to 5 documents related to the bid framework, respective of them focused connected security, Zelenskyy said.

U.K. Defense Secretary John Healey was upbeat astir the advancement successful the Berlin talks. "We are astatine a large infinitesimal successful this war. The US-led propulsion for bid is advancing, and yesterday successful Berlin determination were signals of a advancement successful the bid talks which is further precocious than astatine immoderate clip during this war," helium said astatine a virtual gathering of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group.

Zelenskyy was besides affirmative astir the talks.

"Overall, determination was a objection of unity," helium said. "It was genuinely affirmative successful the consciousness that it reflected the unity of the U.S., Europe, and Ukraine."

Speaking astatine the motorboat of the International Claims Commission for Ukraine successful The Hague Tuesday, Zelenskyy added: "As agelong arsenic our radical stay successful Russian captivity and until the Ukrainian children abducted by Russia are brought home, sanctions indispensable bounds Russia, until it shows respect for peaceful for peaceful beingness and the rights of its neighbors. And of course, of course, each Russian warfare transgression indispensable person consequences for those who committed them."

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