Putin’s bid to end the war has failed, recently imposing new sanctions on Russian oil companies
ROME:
President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday he plans to send the United States revised proposals “in the near future” to end Russia’s war in Ukraine, after meeting with European allies to strategize their next steps.
US President Donald Trump is pushing Kiev to accept a deal proposed by Washington, the original version of which was criticized by Ukraine’s allies as too favorable to Russia.
Writing in X after meetings with European allies this week, Zelensky said “Ukrainian and European elements are now more developed and we are ready to present them to our US partners.”
“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 U.S. proposals, said Russia had the “upper hand” in the conflict in an interview with Politico published Tuesday.
He also accused Kiev of “using war” to avoid elections, which have been postponed under martial law since Russia invaded its neighbor.
“You know, they talk about democracy, but it’s getting to a point where it’s not a democracy anymore,” Trump said.
Without martial law, presidential elections in Ukraine would have to be held in March 2024.
“No legal right”
Zelensky held talks with European leaders in London and Brussels on Monday. On Tuesday he met with Pope Leo XIV and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Washington’s proposals included handing over Ukrainian land not occupied by Russia — the entire Donbass region — in exchange for security promises that fall short of Kiev’s ambitions to join NATO.
Zelensky said on Monday that Washington’s 28-point plan had been reduced to 20 points after US-Ukraine talks over the weekend.
During a televised event on Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin called Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region “historic territory of Russia.”
“This area is important; it’s our historic territory, absolutely,” he said.
Trump criticizes Europe
Trump has gone hot and cold on Ukraine since returning to power in January, initially criticizing Zelensky for being ungrateful for US support.
But he has also been frustrated that efforts to persuade Putin to end the war have failed to produce results, and he recently imposed new sanctions on Russian oil companies.
European allies expressed their solidarity with Ukraine.
In the Politico interview, Trump criticized Europe’s role, saying, “They talk but they don’t produce.”
Meloni, who is positioning 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 skeptical of aid to Kiev.
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