Despite advances on security guarantees, key territorial and nuclear issues continue to block a comprehensive peace deal between Russia and Ukraine
Russia and Ukraine remain deeply divided on contentious issues, particularly the control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and the fate of the Donbas region, which continue to block a comprehensive peace deal despite progress on security guarantees for Kyiv during talks between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
After his Sunday meeting with Zelenskyy, Trump said that they were “getting a lot closer, maybe very close” to an agreement to end Russia’s war in Ukraine but acknowledged that “thorny issues” still needed resolution.
Zelenskyy said he and Trump discussed “all aspects” of a 20-point peace plan and that they were “90 per cent” of the way towards reaching a deal.
The Ukrainian president added that the military aspects of the proposal were “100 per cent agreed”, but did not provide specific details.
However, the Ukrainian president also highlighted the two unresolved issues from a 20-point peace proposal: control of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station, currently held by Russia, and the fate of the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine.
“Two questions remain: the station—how will the station operate?—and the territory,” Reuters quoted Zelenskyy as telling reporters on Monday.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also highlighted the gap between Kyiv and Moscow on territorial matters, stating that Ukraine must withdraw its troops from the small part of Donbas it still controls, warning that Kyiv could lose more land if a deal is not reached.
“We are talking about the withdrawal of the regime’s armed forces from the Donbas,” Peskov said.
He added that a call between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin was planned soon, though no date was specified.
Trump’s decision to meet Zelenskyy in Florida on Sunday had raised hopes of at least some progress toward ending what has become Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War Two.
Russia currently controls about a fifth of Ukraine, including the Crimean peninsula, which it annexed in 2014. It also claims the Donbas region — comprising Donetsk and Luhansk — as well as the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, although all are internationally recognised as part of Ukraine’s sovereign territory.
Moscow has demanded that Kyiv withdraw its troops from parts of Donetsk that it has not been able to occupy in the four years since Russia’s February 2022 invasion.
Kyiv, on the other hand, insists that fighting must halt along current front lines, while Washington has proposed establishing a free economic zone if Ukrainian forces pull back.
“There is no detailed concept for a free economic zone yet,” Zelenskyy said.
Russia has also rejected the idea of a ceasefire to allow a referendum on any territorial concessions by Ukraine.
Zelenskyy has said he would agree to pull back troops to create an economic zone if Russia’s forces did the same and the territory remained officially part of Ukraine and was monitored by an international peace force.
He agreed it was a “tough issue” and said any territorial concessions would require a referendum in Ukraine.
“Of course, our society has to choose and it has to vote, because it’s their land, not the land of one person, it’s the land of our nation,” Zelenskyy said.
Trust between Russia and Ukraine is low
Despite the recent peace overtures, and some exchanges of prisoners of war, mistrust runs deep between Ukraine and Russia.
Russia launched a heavy attack on Ukraine before the talks in Florida began, and has stepped up attacks on Ukraine’s energy facilities as winter approached. Large parts of the capital Kyiv were without power on Monday after the strike as temperatures were below freezing.
Trump repeated on Sunday after his call with Putin that he believed the Russian leader wants the war to end.
“In my opinion, (Putin’s) actions do not coincide with the seemingly peaceful rhetoric he uses in his dialogue with the US president,” Zelenskyy said, questioning Putin’s commitment to peace.
Zelenskyy said he was open to any format of communication with Russia, and a meeting would be possible after Trump and European leaders agree on the framework for peace. Peskov said no call between Putin and Zelenskyy was being discussed.
Putin has said Russia will achieve its aims in Ukraine by force if Kyiv does not want to resolve the conflict diplomatically – making clear it must accept Moscow’s demands.
With inputs from agencies
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