INTERNATIONAL: Zelenskyy Trump’s Peace Plan Looks Better After Revisions
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy struck an upbeat tone on revisions to a U.S.-backed peace framework for ending the war with Russia, calling it a step forward during talks in Paris.
Speaking alongside French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday, he noted the updates addressed key worries from Kyiv and its allies, making the outline more balanced.
The original 28-point proposal, drafted with input from Washington and Moscow, had drawn sharp pushback for leaning too heavily toward Russian demands, like territorial handovers.
Zelenskyy stressed that while progress feels real, tough hurdles linger, especially around land and long-term defenses.
Paris Talks: Sovereignty Front and Center
Macron hosted Zelenskyy at the Élysée Palace for hours of closed-door discussions, joined later by a call with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and leaders from Britain, Germany, Poland, and Italy.
The French leader framed the moment as a potential turning point, insisting Europe must shape any deal to ensure it sticks.
Zelenskyy laid out Ukraine’s non-negotiables: full control over its borders, no rewards for aggression, and binding protections against future incursions.
He described the Florida huddle with American officials as constructive, crediting it for trimming the plan to 19 points and shelving the most divisive bits for top-level chats.
Macron echoed the call for clarity on security pacts, warning that a ceasefire alone won’t cut it without ironclad backing from the West.
He slammed recent Russian strikes as proof Moscow isn’t easing up, urging quicker sanctions to squeeze the Kremlin’s war machine.
Battlefield Claims Clash in Donetsk
Just as diplomats huddled, Russia touted a fresh win in the east, with the Defense Ministry claiming troops seized the strategic hub of Pokrovsk in Donetsk.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said President Vladimir Putin got the update Sunday, painting it as a major blow to Ukrainian lines.
Zelenskyy fired back swiftly, insisting clashes rage on and Ukrainian units have repelled the push.
He called Moscow’s boasts inflated, a tactic to sway talks by hyping gains that aren’t locked in.
Independent trackers like the Institute for the Study of War back Kyiv’s line, noting Russian progress has slowed amid harsh weather and stiff resistance.
This back-and-forth highlights the grind: Pokrovsk guards supply routes to bigger cities like Kramatorsk, and losing it could crimp Ukraine’s hold on the Donbas.
Yet Zelenskyy argued such fights underscore why peace can’t come at the cost of soil.
Moscow Beckons: Witkoff’s High-Wire Act
Witkoff heads to the Russian capital Tuesday for face time with Putin, a session Peskov confirmed as a chance to probe settlement paths.
The envoy, fresh from Florida and Paris briefings, carries a revised draft that dials back U.S.-Russia joint elements, putting hot-button calls like NATO bids in leaders’ hands.
Zelenskyy isn’t tagging along; instead, his team eyes a follow-up with Witkoff post-Moscow, possibly in Europe.
The White House calls recent Ukraine powwows positive, with Trump eyeing a deal soon, though Rubio admits fine-tuning remains.
European voices, from Starmer to Meloni, cheered the momentum but stressed unity: no sidelining the continent, and Russia must show real give. Kallas of the EU flagged risks of bilateral U.S.-Russia deals pressuring Kyiv unfairly.
Sticking Points in Sharp Focus
- Territory Trap: Ceding Donetsk or beyond stays off the table for Ukraine; Putin eyes the full slice, but Zelenskyy vows no de jure nods to grabs.
- Force Pledges: A NATO-like shield emerges as a win, with U.S. allies mulling military ripostes to breaches, per leaks.
- Army Limits: Early caps on Ukrainian troops got axed, easing fears of enforced weakness.
- Sanctions Sling: France pushes a 20th round hitting Russian oil, while frozen assets could fund Kyiv’s rebuild.
With envoys jetting and shells falling, the week tests if tweaks can bridge the gulf. Zelenskyy wrapped up Paris by vowing resilience: peace yes, but on terms that honor the fight.