Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged all parties involved in peace negotiations, including the United States, to be prepared for compromise, following a recent tripartite meeting that failed to yield an agreement. Speaking at a press conference in Vilnius, Lithuania on 25/1, President Zelensky highlighted the ongoing discussions with the US and Russia regarding a 20-point peace plan and remaining contentious issues.

The tripartite meeting, held on 23-24/1 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), marked the first direct dialogue between American, Russian, and Ukrainian negotiators since the conflict began in early 2022. Despite the significance of the talks, the event concluded without any concrete agreement. According to a US official, both Russia and Ukraine have expressed readiness for further dialogue, with discussions expected to continue in Abu Dhabi on 1/2.

President Zelensky indicated that while many difficult issues previously existed, their number has now decreased. He stressed Kyiv's unwavering commitment to territorial integrity, even as Russia seeks to compel Ukraine to relinquish control over areas in the Donbass region, including Donetsk and Luhansk provinces. He noted that the US is actively working to find common ground between these fundamentally different positions, suggesting that the tripartite dialogue represents an initial step toward achieving this.

Emphasizing the necessity of mutual concessions, the Ukrainian leader stated, "To achieve compromise, all parties must be ready to do so. The US must also be ready," though he did not specify what concessions Washington might need to consider.

President Volodymyr Zelensky at a press conference in Vilnius, Lithuania on 25/1. *Photo: AP*

Prior to the UAE meeting, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated Russia's firm demand for Ukraine to withdraw from areas still under its control in the Donbass region as a prerequisite for ending the conflict. Kyiv currently retains approximately 20% of the territory in Donetsk province. Moscow has expressed a desire for a diplomatic resolution but maintains that it will continue to pursue its objectives through military means as long as negotiations remain deadlocked.

In a related development, President Zelensky confirmed that a document concerning US security guarantees for Ukraine is "100% complete." Kyiv is now awaiting confirmation from its partners regarding the specific time and location for its signing. He added that the document will subsequently be submitted to the US and Ukrainian parliaments for ratification.

Pham Giang (According to Reuters, Ukrainska Pravda)