Painstaking progress made on U.S.-backed peace plan, Zelenskyy says

Speaking at a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, the Ukrainian leader noted the most contentious provisions are still not settled to Kyiv’s satisfaction.

“There were several meetings [between U.S. and Ukrainian officials], the latest one concluded half an hour ago …,” said Zelenskyy.

“This is a process; it’s not finished yet. Territorial questions are the most complex. Funding and reconstruction won’t be easy to agree on without European partners, because the [frozen Russian] money is in Europe, and that’s not entirely fair [to discuss the matter without Europe]. Security guarantees require concrete commitments from both the United States and Europe. These are our three main topics—and our three biggest triggers. We must tread carefully.”

The president added he will get a full briefing from the Ukrainian delegation when they meet on Dec. 2 in Ireland.

“Negotiators from the United States shared their vision, and they now want to share it with the Russian side,” he said.

“Tomorrow, they [Ukrainian negotiators] will arrive in Ireland and step by step explain where we stand. I also understand that the United States will receive Russia’s response [to the proposal].”

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot previously said the U.S.–led peace negotiations cannot move forward without European involvement, and Zelenskyy’s visit to Paris underlines that point. Barrot noted that while discussions to date have excluded purely European questions, the United States has for the first time clearly signaled readiness to work with Ukraine on tangible post-war security guarantees.