Washington, DC (USA), Nov 22 (ANI): US President Donald Trump on Friday (local time) expressed his belief that Washington has identified a possible path to peace between Ukraine and Russia, but stressed that the proposal will move forward only if Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy approves it, CNN reported.
“We think we have a way to get peace, he’s going to have to approve it. I think they’re getting closer, but I don’t want to predict,” Trump said in an interview with reporters in the Oval Office.
His remarks come amid heightened debate over a new peace plan proposed by the United States that is currently being considered by Kyiv. According to CNN, the proposal is still under development and is expected to undergo significant revisions during the negotiations.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned earlier on Friday that the country faces one of the most challenging moments in its history as it considers the implications of the US proposal, Al Jazeera reported.
Speaking at a public rally outside his office in Kyiv, Zelenskyy stressed the need for national unity and reiterated that he would never betray the Ukrainian people.
“Now is one of the most difficult moments in our history… Now Ukraine can face a very difficult choice – either lose its dignity or risk losing its main partner,” Zelenskyy said.
“I will fight 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to ensure that at least two points of the plan – the dignity and freedom of Ukrainians – are not overlooked,” he added.
A new Ukrainian peace proposal being discussed by the Trump administration could involve Kiev ceding territory in the eastern Donbas region and agreeing to limit its military capabilities in exchange for US-backed security guarantees, CNN reported, citing a Western official familiar with the ongoing negotiations.
According to CNN, US officials said the proposal remains a work in progress and noted that any eventual deal would require compromises from both Russia and Ukraine, which have been in conflict since 2014, turning the situation into an all-out war after Moscow invades in 2022.
Officials stressed that some of the elements currently in circulation — including those seen as favoring Moscow’s demands — are not final and are expected to change as discussions progress.
The 28-point draft has reportedly been reviewed by US President Donald Trump and has his support, CNN reported.
It represents Washington’s latest attempt to revive peace efforts and end the nearly three-year-old conflict.
Some provisions, particularly those calling for Ukrainian territorial concessions in areas not fully under Russian control, have previously been rejected by Kyiv. (OR)
