ROME, Italy: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday that Kyiv will soon send revised proposals to the United States on ending the war with Russia, after meeting with European allies to strategize on their next steps.
US President Donald Trump is pressuring Kyiv to accept a deal put forward by Washington, the initial version of which was criticised by Ukraine’s allies.
Writing on X after meetings with European allies this week, Zelensky said the “Ukrainian and European components are now more developed, and we are ready to present them to our partners in the US”.
“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 US proposals, said Russia had the “upper hand” in the conflict, in an interview with Politico published on Tuesday.
He also accused Kyiv of “using war” to avoid elections, which have been postponed under the imposition of martial law since the war with Russia.
“You know, they talk about a democracy, but it gets to a point where it’s not a democracy anymore,” Trump said.
Without martial law, a Ukrainian presidential election would have been due in March 2024.
‘No legal right’
Zelensky on Monday held talks with European leaders in London and Brussels. On Tuesday, he met with Pope Leo XIV and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Washington’s proposals involved Ukraine surrendering land to Russia — the entire Donbas region — in return for security promises, AFP reported.
Zelensky on Monday said Washington’s 28-point plan had been reduced to 20 points after US-Ukraine talks at the weekend.
He pointed to the land issue and international security guarantees as two of the main sticking points.
“Do we envision ceding territories? We have no legal right to do so, under Ukrainian law, our constitution and international law. And we don’t have any moral right either,” Zelensky said.
During a televised event on Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin called Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region Russia’s “historical territory”.
“This territory is important; it is our historical territory, absolutely,” he said.
Trump criticises Europe
Trump has blown hot and cold on Ukraine since returning to office in January, initially chastising Zelensky for not being grateful for US support.
In the Politico interview, Trump criticised Europe’s role, saying: “They talk but they don’t produce.”
