On 25/11, President Donald Trump stated that US negotiators had made progress in discussions with Russia and Ukraine. He added that Moscow had accepted some concessions, though he did not specify what they were.
The US leader disclosed that special envoy Steve Witkoff would soon travel to Russia to meet President Vladimir Putin. Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, who assisted in negotiating the Gaza Strip ceasefire agreement, might also join the visit.
President Trump also announced he was no longer imposing a specific deadline for Russia and Ukraine to reach a peace agreement. "The deadline for me is when everything is over", he said.
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President Donald Trump speaks to reporters on Air Force One on 25/11. *Photo: AP* |
The US President believed Russia held the advantage on the battlefield. He warned that some Ukrainian territories "would fall into enemy hands anyway" in the coming months and stressed that Kyiv should reach an agreement for its own best interest.
President Trump last week set a 27/11 deadline for Ukraine to accept the US-drafted peace plan.
The initial draft contained 28 points, requiring Ukraine to relinquish some territory, accept limits on its army size, and cease pursuing NATO membership. For many Ukrainians, including frontline soldiers, these terms amounted to surrender.
AFP news agency reported that after recent discussions among the parties, the plan had been replaced by a version that better considered Ukraine's interests. A source familiar with the situation described the new draft as "significantly better", but did not disclose details.
An unnamed US official stated on 25/11 that Kyiv had agreed to the peace agreement proposed by Washington. The official noted that some "minor details" still needed to be resolved.
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The US delegation (left) negotiates with the Ukrainian delegation in Geneva, Switzerland on 23/11. *Photo: AP* |
Rustem Umerov, secretary of Ukraine's National Defense and Security Council, announced on the same day that Kyiv had reached a "common understanding" on the core terms of the agreement. Officials from Ukraine, the US, and Europe discussed these terms in Geneva last weekend.
He expressed optimism that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky could visit the US in November to finalize the agreement with President Trump.
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated on 25/11 that Russia was awaiting an updated version of the peace proposal from the US. He added that Moscow expected this version to incorporate the fundamental principles agreed upon by the leaders of both countries at the Alaska summit in August.
*By Pham Giang (Reuters, AFP, CBS)*
