Ukraine plans Zelensky's visit to US in November to finalize peace deal with Trump
Editor's note: The article was updated to include statements from Ukrainian officials.
Ukraine expects President Volodymyr Zelensky to visit the U.S. in November to meet his American counterpart Donald Trump and finalize key steps of the peace deal, Rustem Umerov, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, said on Nov. 25.
The statement follows reporting by U.S. media that Zelensky might visit the U.S. as early as this week to discuss peace efforts with Trump.
Andriy Yermak, head of the President's Office, told Axios that Zelensky wants to meet Trump "as soon as possible," potentially as early as Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 27.
"We look forward to organizing a visit of Ukraine's president to the U.S. at the earliest suitable date in November to complete final steps and make a deal with President Trump," Umerov wrote on social media.
The originally 28-point proposal was reportedly cut down to 19 points after consultations between Ukrainian and U.S. officials in Geneva on Nov. 23.
Following the talks in Switzerland, Zelensky confirmed that the plan had been scaled back and that the revised version is more aligned with Ukraine's needs. He added that sensitive issues would be discussed with Trump.
The U.S. and Ukrainian delegations, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and top Ukrainian presidential aide Andriy Yermak, respectively, hailed the initial consultations as "productive" and said they will continue to work on an "updated and refined peace framework," without providing details.
The initial peace plan was met with backlash from European partners and U.S. lawmakers over the broad concessions it demanded of Ukraine, including surrendering the entire Donbas region to Russia, reducing its military to 600,000 troops, and relinquishing NATO aspirations.
While Trump initially said he expects Ukraine to sign off on the plan by Thanksgiving, or Nov. 27, Rubio later signaled the deadline could be extended and that the document is still subject to change as peace talks continue.
Trump, who on Nov. 23 lambasted Ukraine over its supposed lack of gratitude for U.S. peace efforts, softened his rhetoric the following day and hinted at progress in negotiations.
"Is it really possible that big progress is being made in peace talks between Russia and Ukraine?" Trump posted on his Truth Social platform. "Don't believe it until you see it, but something good just may be happening."
An undisclosed U.S. official told the Washington Post that Trump has not been heavily involved in the details of the original plan, and that "even different parts of the White House don't know what's going on."
Zelensky said on Nov. 24 that Ukraine is coordinating steps with the U.S. and other partners and seeking to ensure the inclusion of some of the most sensitive issues in the final plan, such as an "all-for-all" exchange of captives and the release of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia.
Speaking in a video address to the Fourth Parliamentary Summit of the Crimean Platform in Stockholm, Zelensky thanked European partners for their assistance and asked them for continued support during negotiations.
The U.K., Germany, and France, Ukraine's leading European partners, reportedly pitched their own counterproposal, pushing back against some of the most demanding conditions imposed on Kyiv in the initial plan.
"Borders cannot be changed by force. Criminals must not remain unpunished. They must answer for the war they started," the president said.
Zelensky also noted that there has been a "lot of noise in the media" and "political pressure" in connection with the peace plan.
