Ukraine will share an updated peace plan with the US today after European leaders reaffirmed support for Volodymyr Zelenskyy following a meeting in London.
Mr Zelenskyy said it now comprised 20 points, down from 28, after some “obvious anti-Ukrainian points were removed”.
However, he said there was still no agreement on giving up territory – something America believes is necessary for peace but Ukraine and Europe have long resisted.
The Ukrainian leader was speaking after talks with Sir Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at 10 Downing Street.
All four men “underscored the need for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, which includes robust security guarantees,” said the prime minister’s spokesperson.
“Positive progress” was also made on a stalled plan to use billions of dollars of frozen Russian assets as a loan for Ukraine.
The quartet held a call with other European leaders after their face to face in which all agreed it was a “critical moment” to ramp up support for Ukraine and bolster “economic pressure on Putin“, the spokesperson added.
It comes as President Donald Trump appears increasingly keen to push through a peace deal – with his original plan widely seen as favouring Russia.
A US delegation met Vladimir Putin in Moscow last week, but there was no breakthrough and Russian officials said afterwards they were unimpressed with much of it.
‘Ukraine’s security must be guaranteed’
Speaking to reporters yesterday, Mr Zelenskyy said: “The mood of the Americans, in principle, is for finding a compromise.
“Of course, there are complex issues related to the territory, and a compromise has not yet been found there.”
The Ukrainian leader also went to Brussels later on Monday to meet European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Antonio Costa, and NATO chief Mark Rutte.
Mr Zelenskyy described it as “good and productive”, while Ms Von der Leyen posted on X that the “EU remains ironclad in its support for Ukraine”.
“Ukraine’s security must be guaranteed, in the long term, as a first line of defence for our Union,” she added – referencing Ukraine’s insistence for strong deterrents against Russia attacking again.
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Trump ‘disappointed’ with Zelenskyy
The extent of US involvement in any such guarantee is unclear, but Mr Zelenskyy stressed its importance as he answered reporters’ questions on WhatsApp on Monday.
“What if after the end of the war, Russia will start another aggression?” he commented. “What will the partners be ready for? What could Ukraine count on?”
Despite the Kremlin’s downbeat response to his peace plan, Mr Trump said at the weekend Mr Putin was “fine” with it – while adding he was “a little disappointed” with Mr Zelenskyy, who he claimed hadn’t yet read it.
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The president’s eldest son, Donald Jr, told Sky’s Yalda Hakim in recent days that his father could walk away from the whole peace process.
It all plays into concerns that America is increasingly losing interest in maintaining the traditional strong European alliances.
The US National Security Strategy – published on Friday and praised by Moscow as “appealing to us” – was another sign of the direction of travel.
It stated a wish to “re-establish strategic stability with Russia”, while also cautioning NATO must not be “a perpetually expanding alliance” – a persistent complaint of Russia’s.
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‘Europe has to be careful,’ warns Trump
Mr Trump dissatisfaction with more liberal leaders across the Atlantic was also clear on Monday when he commented: “Europe has to be very careful, we want to keep Europe, Europe.
“Europe is going in some bad directions – very bad, very bad for the people. We don’t want Europe to change so much.”
Mr Zelenskyy’s diplomacy takes place as Ukrainians continue to endure regular electricity cuts due to Russia’s established winter strategy of fierce attacks on power infrastructure.
It is also grinding out small gains in the Donbas – the sprawling region it hopes to seize in its entirety under any peace deal despite Ukraine still controlling significant areas.
