Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, after negotiations at the White House, stated that it was “the best meeting and we discussed many details.”
As reported by the Financial Times, Ukraine and the US plan to conclude an agreement to purchase American weapons worth $100 billion funded by Europe. After concluding a peace agreement, the US will provide security guarantees.
Additionally, Kyiv is proposing to Washington an agreement worth $50 billion for drone production, involving Ukrainian companies. However, the publication notes that it is unclear what part of this will concern purchases and what will involve investments.
According to the publication, in the document where Kyiv outlined its proposals for discussion with European allies ahead of the meeting with US President Donald Trump, it is stated that “a lasting peace should be based not on concessions and gifts to Putin, but on strong security guarantees that will make future aggression impossible.”
According to FT, Kyiv rejected Vladimir Putin's proposal to withdraw troops from Donbas in exchange for Russia freezing the frontline in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions. Ukraine argued its refusal of such a territorial exchange with Russia by stating that Russia could create “a foothold for further and rapid advancement of Russian forces towards the Dnipro,” which would allow the Russian president to “achieve aggression goals by other means.”
Kyiv also insists on being fully compensated for the damage during the war, which could be paid from $300 billion of frozen Russian assets.
Meanwhile, in Kyiv's opinion, lifting sanctions from Russia is only possible if the Kremlin adheres to a future peace agreement.
Leaving the White House, Zelensky stated that he is ready to abandon the demand for a ceasefire in favor of long-term peace agreements. According to him, at the White House meeting, he “showed the battlefield situation to American allies” and argued “for every percent of occupied territories.”
The President of Ukraine spoke about the format of the meeting with Putin proposed by the Russian side: first bilateral, and then trilateral with the participation of Trump. He also reported that the security guarantees discussed at the White House meeting will be worked out within 10 days.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz told journalists that a meeting between Putin and Zelensky could take place in the next two weeks, although he is not sure “if Putin will have the courage” to attend this meeting.
French President Emmanuel Macron also expressed skepticism during a press conference about the Kremlin's readiness for a peaceful settlement. “I am not sure that President Putin also wants peace. His ultimate goal is to seize as much (Ukrainian) territory as possible, to weaken Ukraine,” stated the French president.
Axios, citing sources, writes that Trump hopes to organize a meeting of the leaders of Russia and Ukraine before the end of August. Meanwhile, Putin's aide Yuri Ushakov only confirmed that the level of representatives from Moscow and Kyiv at direct Russia-Ukraine negotiations “could be raised.”
Photo: The New York Times